There is an urgent need for spatial explicit approaches that help in strategic planning and that follow a hierarchical analysis through multiple spatial scales: first identifying priority areas at the country level, and second, within each priority area, helping identify critical sites for the implementation of projects. In this manner, resources can be used more efficiently and policies can be more effectively directed and tailored to the specific characteristics of the sites. To face these challenges, the Centre for Ecosystems Research (CIECO) of the National University of Mexico (UNAM), in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has developed the Woodfuel Integrated Supply/Demand Overview Mapping (WISDOM), a spatially explicit method for identifying woodfuel priority areas or “hot spots”. WISDOM is based on geographic information system (GIS) technology, which offers new possibilities for integrating statistical information about production and consumption of woodfuels. WISDOM attempts to integrate existing information at different geographic scales and reduce the collection of costly new data. This publication reports the WISDOM approach to Mexico. Subsequently we explore the possibility of identifying concrete areas for intervention at the project level, based on an accessibility analysis within the Purhepecha Region of Michoacan State.

Type of Case
Printed publication (book, sourcebook, journal article…)

Publisher
FAO

Region
Americas

Biome
Arid lands, Tropical

Forest Type
All forest types (natural and planted)

Primary Designated Function
Production