The Key Role of Public Forests in Restoring Connectivity: an Application to Castilla y León Region, Spain.

Forests have been increasingly affected by natural disturbances and human activities. These impacts have caused habitat fragmentation and a loss of ecological connectivity. This study examines potential restoration pathways that reconnect the five largest forest cores in the Castilla y León region of Spain. Resistance surfaces were created based on land use and land cover variables. Three spatial configurations were tested to reflect different combinations of forest types, agroforestry areas, and legally protected public forests (Montes de Utilidad Pública [MUPs]). Among these, the configuration that included MUPs resulted in the largest improvement in ecological connectivity. The connected habitat area nearly doubled, and the required restoration area was substantially lower compared to the other configurations. In all cases, the majority of the proposed pathways passed through forest and semi-natural areas. This outcome shows that these land types are essential for achieving cost-efficient and functionally effective restoration. The findings support the main role of public lands in large-scale forest connectivity efforts. This study provides a spatially explicit framework for restoration planning. It also strengthens the case for including publicly managed forests in long-term conservation and land management policies.