Towards a system of indicators for measuring socio-ecological and economic development of the Carpathian mountain region.

The dissertation is focused on the development of theoretical positions and scientific and methodological approaches towards the formation of a system of socioecological-economic indicators of the development of the Carpathians mountains areas in the context of ecological economics and environmental economics theories. The dissertation summarizes theoretical, methodological, empirical and practical results of scientific research of the applicant, her conclusions and proposals as to future socio-ecological-economic development of the Carpathians mountain areas. In the thesis, the definition of "forest-dependent community" is proposed and characterised with regards to the Carpathians conditions. The conceptual matrix model for determining the level of forest dependence has also been developed, taking into account the level of analysis (country, region, oblast, district, city / village, community, household, individual) and the type of forest dependence (from wood / wood products, non-wood forest products, tourism / recreation, from forest as a source of income / employment, forest ecosystem services for environment stabilization, cultural ecosystem services). Considering as the priority maintaining of forest ecosystem services, as key components for the socio-ecological and economic development of the Carpathian mountain region, and taking into account the current ecological-economic and socioeconomic challenges and opportunities in the studied region, we propose a system of indicators to assess its development. On this basis, and through our evaluation of the contribution of forest ecosystem services to the wellbeing of forest-dependent communities (using a mixedmethod approach), we arrive into the following indicators of the development of the Carpathians mountain region: – indicators, that imply opportunities/threats to sustainable flows of ecosystem services; – indicators that characterize the impact of (inefficient) forest management; – indicators that characterize fostering sustainability in the provision ecosystem services, in the context of decentralization; – indicators that characterize an increase of community responsibility in the field of forest governance; – indicators, characterizing authorities' ability in supporting effective management; – indicators that characterize cooperation and interaction between stakeholders (i.e. social innovations) for achieving sustainability; – indicators, demonstrating the availability/lack and simplicity/complexity of procedures for accessing / using of forest products; – indicators, characterizing accessibility to forest products by local 24 population; – indicators, characterizing the essential steps by communities in the Carpathian region to improve the forest management efficiency and forest resilience. The methodical approach for the analysis of socio-ecological-economic development of the Carpathian region is therefore advanced on the basis of the conceptualized system of indicators for the development evaluation. In the thesis, the concept of mountain forest's socio-ecological system is defined as a complex and integrated system, including the socio-economic (human) and ecological (biophysical – mountain forest ecosystems) sub-systems, which are in close connection and interaction with each other. The scientific and methodical approaches for enhancing decision support processes on the development of the Carpathian region are developed. They adapt and elaborate further an integration of the DPSIR method with the concept of ecosystem services. We propose credible ways towards increasing the role of communities in the decision-making process in the field of sustainable development of the region. A smart development of forest-dependent mountain territories and communities requires new and innovative strategies based on green growth and socio-ecological innovations. These would need to integrate scientific and local/traditional knowledge around the array of forest ecosystem goods and services, their management and use. Such strategies should enable an increasing of human well-being without destroying the sustainability of fragile mountain forest ecosystems. The practical significance of the results is in that the theoretical provisions of the thesis have been brought to the level of methodological developments and practical recommendations, which can be used by state and local authorities to improve the strategic planning and the development of settlements and communities in the Carpathian mountain region. Other stakeholders, including local communities, can also make use of the suggestions put forward in the thesis.