Evaluation, Analysis and Perception of Sustainable Forest Management Through the Lens of the PEFC Forest Certification Using Two Case Studies in Sicily

Sustainable forest management has reached a common understanding between scientific and technical definitions. A series of criteria and indicators have been implemented for monitoring the effectiveness of the management in functional and structural terms, and to evaluate its effects on ecosystem services of forests. Currently, Sicily has no forest areas with certification of sustainable forest management and in order to evaluate the diffusion of knowledge of certification schemes and their importance in SFM, a questionnaire survey was carried out during a foresters' workshop on the island. The possibility of applying the criteria and indicators of PEFC certification of sustainable forest management is analyzed in two case studies, representative of Sicilian forest ecosystems. This analysis highlights the main weaknesses related to current management practices and inadequate consultation with stakeholders. Some critical aspects of the certification process are discussed, highlighting possibilities and difficulties.