A SAM Approach for the Analysis of Small-Scale Forestry-Based Activities: a Case Study of a Landowner Cooperative for Non-wooded Products from Pinus pinea L. in Southern Spain

Recent studies have highlighted the substantial economic value of non-wood products obtained from Mediterranean forests. Despite their relevance to forest management, few studies have analysed the economic impacts of such agroforestry activities and their contribution to the economic development in those areas where they are found. In this paper, we estimate the economic impacts of a small-scale pine nut cooperative that has emerged close to stone pine Pinus pinea L. stands in southern Spain. To conduct this analysis, we employ a social accounting matrix linear model and primary data from one of the largest pine nut producing areas in the region. The results obtained show a small but positive contribution to province’s production, 0.0013%, gross domestic product, 0.0014%, and employment levels, 0.0017%, due to its own activity but also to its linkages with the remaining production sectors. This injection of income, albeit small at the provincial level, is critical to population in rural and financially deprived mountain areas.