The Mediterranean Forests Are Extraordinarily Beautiful, a Fascinating an Extraordinary Patrimony of Wealth Whose Conservation Can Be Highly Controversy

THE editerraneanFORESTS mA NEW CONSERVATION STRATEGY 1 3 2 4 5 6 the unveiled a meeting point the mediterranean: amazing plant an unknown millennia forests on the global 200 the terrestrial current a brand new the state of WWF a new approach wealth of the of nature a sea of forests diversity animal world of human the wane in the sub-ecoregions mediterranean tool: the gap mediterranean in action for forest mediterranean and civilisations interaction with mediterranean in the forest cover analysis forests protection forests forests mediterranean 23 46 81012141617 18 19 22 24 7 1 Argania spinosa fruits, Essaouira, Morocco. Credit: WWF/P. Regato 2 Reed-parasol maker, Tunisia. Credit: WWF-Canon/M. Gunther 3 Black-shouldered Kite. Credit: Francisco Márquez 4 Endemic mountain Aquilegia, Corsica. Credit: WWF/P. Regato 5 Sacred ibis. Credit: Alessandro Re 6 Joiner, Kure Mountains, Turkey. Credit: WWF/P. Regato 7 Barbary ape, Morocco. Credit: A. & J. Visage/Panda Photo It is like no other region on Earth. Exotic, diverse, roamed by mythical WWF Mediterranean Programme Office launched its campaign in 1999 creatures, deeply shaped by thousands of years of human intervention, the to protect 10 outstanding forest sites among the 300 identified through cradle of civilisations. a comprehensive study all over the region. When we talk about the Mediterranean region, you could be forgiven for The campaign has produced encouraging results in countries such as Spain, thinking of azure seas and golden beaches, sun and sand, a holidaymaker’s Turkey, Croatia and Lebanon. NATURE AND CULTURE, of forest environments in the region. But in recent times, the balance AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP Long periods of considerable forest between nature and humankind has paradise. But it is the forests that perhaps most characterise the region’s Mediterranean forests played a crucial clearance and a general expansion of been lost. Intensive agricultural remarkable biodiversity. The next challenge for us is to demonstrate that Mediterranean forests hold role in the rise of some of the oldest population and agriculture has practices and climate change have led civilisations, often as a focus of sometimes resulted in significant semi- to many of the rare species that 9 The Mediterranean forests are extraordinarily beautiful, a fascinating an extraordinary patrimony of wealth whose conservation can be highly controversy. Strategic control of natural and human-shaped landscapes, characterise the Mediterranean forest kaleidoscope in all shades of green. They are one of the planet’s centres of beneficial for human society and especially for those communities that still important forest areas was the cause of which are nowadays home to important region being listed as dispute between different peoples. sets of biodiversity. The forests have vulnerable, plant diversity, with an incredible 25,000 species. inhabit the forests. But although much Mediterranean long been closely associated with the threatened or To this end, we have developed a new concept, “Green Belts against deforestation and consequent erosion cultural heritage of the Mediterranean endangered on the has happened since classical times, an peoples, a source of inspiration for art, Red Lists of IUCN – 10 From Portuguese cork forests to the cedars of Lebanon, from the acacia Desertification”, which aims to create an effective network of forest important process of cultural evolution science, medicine, health and spiritual The World woodlands of North Africa and the Middle East to the firs of the Italian reserves, connected through corridors to promote wildlife flow and know-how formed to make good use guidance, as well as food and income. Conservation Union. Apennines, the Mediterranean forest regions contain surprise after surprise. and habitat connectivity. They are one of the few regions where animals such as leopards, bears, ibex This new concept will inspire and steer our future work on forest and gazelles can wander undisturbed. conservation in the Mediterranean. AmeetingPOINT OF NATURE AND CIVILISATIONS 3 THE UNVEILED WEALTH OF THE The Mediterranean climate, characterised mediterraneanFORESTS by prolonged dry and warm summer 11 seasons, occurs over just 2% of the world’s Forests have always played, and still play, an important role in the daily life We need to act now, together, to save land surface, on the western coasts of all the of the Mediterranean peoples. the Mediterranean forests from continents in both hemispheres, along a Turkey, for millennia communities But the forests are fragile and under threat. Clearance and degradation is further extinction. This unique more or less broad latitudinal range have lived in harmony with accelerating throughout the region due to ill-conceived land use policies, natural heritage deserves our between 28° and 45°, in California, Central nature, protecting a wide range of development pressure, poverty and population growth. wholehearted support. 8 Chile, the Western Cape, Southwest 12 flora and fauna unique to their There is a serious risk that our green heritage will not survive beyond this Australia and the Mediterranean region regions. The mountains also form century. Just 17% of the original forest cover of the Mediterranean region Marco Pagliani itself. By far the largest of these regions a natural border between the is left, while fires alone destroy a further 1% per year. Conservation Director is the Mediterranean. Mediterranean and the adjacent WWF Mediterranean Programme Office ecological regions, preventing desertification in the south and assuring This is why WWF has identified the Mediterranean forests among the most The Mediterranean Sea is the largest in the world, a transitional zone important hydrological resources in the north. valuable and endangered ecoregions in the world, known as Global 200, 8 Marco Pagliani, Conservation Director, between the European, African and Asian continents. Large peninsulas – WWF Mediterranean Programme Office. which constitute biodiversity hotspots to be preserved if the natural heritage Credit: WWF/P. Regato Iberian, Italian, Balkan and Anatolian – and countless islands shape most Climate, geography, geology, cultural tradition and history all come together 9 Etna Volcano, Sicily, Italy. Volcanic substrata are widespread of our planet is to be maintained for the generations to come. in the region. of the broken coastline in the north. The North African and Middle Eastern to characterise the Mediterranean region, which is a meeting point of Credit: WWF/P. Regato 10 Duratón river canyon, Spain. coast, meanwhile, has a less convoluted outline. civilisations and nature. Typical karstic morphology. Credit: WWF/P. Regato 11 Wadi Rum desert, Jordan. Sandstone rocks. Mountains constitute the backbone of the Mediterranean region and they Such a complex human context cannot be understood apart from the natural Transitional zone to the saharo-sindic biogeographic region (desert). have determined the outstanding natural and cultural heritage of the region. world. Nature has always had, and will continue to have, a deep influence on Credit: WWF/M. Pagliani 12 Petra, Jordan. Credit: WWF/M. Pagliani Whether it is the Alpujarras in Andalucia or the Taurus range in southern the life of the people. Before humans began exploiting the regional ecosystems of the Mediterranean sclerophyllous and xeric-conifer forest Mediterranean thousands of years ago, forests covered 82% of the landscape. Evergreen broadleafs – such as oak, strawberry, myrtle and laurel – and xeric Today the cover is five times less and in great danger of shrinking further. conifers – cypress, pine and juniper – and two endemic palms – Phoenix Despite such alarming depletion, however, Mediterranean forests, woodland theofrasti and Chamaerops humilis – give a unique sub-tropical character to and scrub form an outstanding terrestrial ecoregion. It is still extraordinarily the lowlands and dry, warm coastal landscapes all around the region. rich in forest types and species, most of which are endemic. Semi-natural, sylvo-pastoral woodlands are still an important source of 16 They can be divided into six diverse groups, according to their location, income for rural economies while maintaining rich biodiversity. ground conditions and the climate THE BROKEN VEINS OF THE But these forests have been decimated WWF Mediterranean Programme Office they inhabit. MEDITERRANEAN FORESTS over the years, substituted mainly by has developed a partnership with the Riparian forests are essential for intensive agriculture. Portuguese NGO ADPM (Association Mediterranean mountain conifer preventing and controlling flood Nowadays just a few remain in small, for the Defense of Mertola’s Heritage), damages and for stocking water. very fragmented areas, where their which has led to the establishment of and mixed forest 18 They are also important contributors degraded habitats are threatened by the Guadiana Valley Natural Park. 17 The cold and humid high elevations to the health of aquatic ecosystems. newer, genetically-modified species WWF Spain is promoting alternatives to of the main Mediterranean mountain In addition, they play a major role in (i.e. poplars). reduce the impact of irrigation in the 13 allowing species populations to flow WWF has selected several large river Guadiana Basin and to reverse the ranges constitute outstanding along their natural corridors. basins, such as the trans-boundary negative effect of agriculture land biodiversity hotspots in terms of plant Many relic species

Load more