5. Climate Change Impacts on Forests and Forest Products in the Mediterranean Area

The Mediterranean Region is defined according to its biogeography and bioclimate. Climate is characterized by mild winters and hot, dry summer. Biodiversity is rich and landscape patterns are complex. Mediterranean forests have historically been subjected to numerous threats (forest fires, over-exploitation, deforestation, degradation), that are today accentuated under climate and land use changes. In this respect, the Mediterranean area appears among the most vulnerable areas to global change. Forest area in the region has increased by 10% between 1990 and 2000. Roundwood nowadays represents 60% and woodfuel 40% of total wood products (125 Mm³). Sometime non-wood forest products and services are more important as they represent 60–70% of total economic value (133 € ha⁻¹) of Mediterranean forests. There are already evidences of impacts of recent climate change on ecophysiology, productivity, dieback and distribution of Mediterranean forests and these impacts will become worse in the future, particularly for increased evaporative demand and repeated extreme events. An interdisciplinary research agenda, integrated with monitoring networks and projection models is needed to provide information at all levels of decision making and to implement a framework of dynamic and adaptive management planning.