Mediterranean forests under focus

SUMMARY Mediterranean forest ecosystems provide multiple goods and services, including an exceptional richness in terms of biodiversity, which are crucial for the socio-economic development of rural areas as well as for the welfare of the urban populations of the Mediterranean region. Mediterranean forests are very vulnerable and fragile to numerous threats such as forest fires, over-exploitation, deforestation, and degradation. These threats are nowadays accentuated in a context of climate and land use changes. This paper presents the main characteristics, threats and values of Mediterranean forests and discusses the main scientific challenges and policy needs required to ensure the sustainable management and provision of Mediterranean forest goods and services.