The provision of forest goods and services is determined by their management practices. The European-Mediterranean forests face a double situation of lacking mature forests due to historical high human pressure and the generalized presence of young, low quality stands resulting from the progressive abandonment of traditional activities in the last decades. The analysis in this paper focuses on three types of economic incentives addressing these challenges in Catalonia (Spain) – the Mature Forest Reserves (MFR), the Land Stewardship (LS) and the grants for Forest Defence Groups (FDG). These instruments are assessed based on the evaluation criteria of effectiveness, efficiency, conditionality, flexibility, acceptance and equity. Assessment is based on the quantitative and qualitative information obtained from the interviews of experts and involved stakeholders. Our results show that the implementation of these instruments is in overall perceived as positive, although there is space for improvement, especially in the effectiveness dimensions. In the cases of LS and FDG the economic incentive supposes a multiplier effect of the potential impacts achieved without the instrument. Efficiency adjustments are applied once the initiative becomes consolidated in the territory. The existing governance system allows for an adequate conditionality of public schemes. Flexibility, equity and acceptance of the instruments have been attained by adapting their design and are not found problematic in the case study area.
