FORCE Project

Natural habitats are the most important ecosystems for wildlife conservation, as they feature a high diversity of plant species, greater structural complexity and an abundant supply of food, shelter and breeding sites. These characteristics enable them to support a greater number of species, including those most sensitive to environmental changes. In contrast, production forests, such as eucalyptus or pine plantations, are managed for economic purposes and have a more homogeneous structure and lower biological diversity, which reduces their capacity to support diverse wildlife communities. However, these forests can be utilised by various species, particularly the more generalist ones, and their ecological value can increase when they are managed sustainably, for example through forest certification (FSC). Thus, although production forests do not replace natural habitats, they can complement their function, contributing to wildlife conservation and landscape connectivity when integrated into responsible forest management.