Fragility-driven framework for optimizing forest road planning on a Mediterranean island

Abstract Forests resilience requires a balance between ensuring resource extraction access and preserving biodiversity. This paper describes a fragility-driven optimization approach for assessing ecological vulnerability in the context of forest road planning and management on Thassos Island, Greece. We estimate the impacts of forest road networks on ecological systems’ resilience by combining fragility curves’ functions and multicriteria evaluation (MCE) methodology. The method evaluates the possibility of exceeding critical damage thresholds due to road construction and use, offering light on the links between human access and environmental sustainability. Our findings emphasize the importance of spatial layout in forest road networks and its impact on critical ecological variables while also taking into account the severity of human impact and the ecosystem’s Absorptive Capacity Capabilities. The findings show that a complete methodology that combines fragility analysis with optimization methodologies can guide long-term road planning that reduces environmental consequences while allowing for critical management actions.