Can Forest Certification be a tool to preserve vertebrates' biodiversity in Eucalyptus plantations? Conservation Ecology & Society

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The conversion of native ecosystems into agricultural or forestry systems is a significant threat to biodiversity, as it leads to changes in natural communities' composition, and ecological processes. Many forestry systems have adopted the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification as a tool to maintain forest integrity, preserve biodiversity, and ensure profitability. However, the role of FSC certification in promoting wildlife use of temperate plantations remains largely unexplored.

Eucalyptus plantations now cover 20 million hectares globally and account for 9.2% of Portugal's territory— representing 26% of all forests. In this context, we are implementing the ForCe project aiming to assess whether FSC certification can enhance the functional and conservation roles of Eucalyptus plantations for vertebrates, thereby contributing to their environmental sustainability. Using birds and mammals as models, we have examined how vertebrates utilize Eucalyptus plantations both with and without FSC certification, comparing their occurrence patterns to those found in native control areas.