Launch of The status of Mediterranean forests 2025 at the Sixth Near East Forestry Week

On 1 October 2025, at the Sixth Near East Forestry Week and the 27th Session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a dedicated side event titled “Restoring Mediterranean Forests: Insights from The status of Mediterranean forests 2025 and Regional Action” marked the official launch of the third edition of the status of Mediterranean forests (SoMF 2025) report. 

This occasion was a strategic moment to rally Mediterranean and Near East countries, international organizations and research networks together around a shared vision: resilient forests for a changing climate. The event highlighted how Mediterranean forestry efforts align with global frameworks, such as the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (“UN Decade”) and the region’s designation as a UN Decade World Restoration Flagship, “Restoring Mediterranean forests”. 

The SoMF 2025 report was developed by FAO under the guidance of the Committee on Mediterranean Forestry Questions – Silva Mediterranea and regional partners. 

Building on the 2013 and 2018 editions, this third edition reflects an impressive collaborative effort: it comprises eight chapters authored by 79 experts representing 18 countries, 65 percent of which are in the Mediterranean. Contributions came from 44 institutions, including ministries and international organizations (25 percent) and universities and research centres (75 percent), showcasing the diversity, breadth and depth of expertise behind the report. 

The SoMF 2025 provides an updated and comprehensive assessment of Mediterranean forests. It underscores what the urgent challenges are, such as forest degradation, biodiversity loss, the impacts of climate change, and the intensifying threat of wildfires, while presenting actionable solutions for resilience and sustainability. According to the report’s findings, forests and other wooded lands currently represent 28 percent of the Mediterranean land area. Between 2010 and 2023, wildfires burned more than 5.5 million hectares, including 1.7 million hectares of forest, and fire activity is projected to rise as temperatures and droughts increase. The report also stresses the role of urban and peri-urban forests in curbing urban sprawl, providing ecosystem services, and enhancing social well-being. Restoration efforts gained momentum under the Agadir Commitment and following the Mediterranean region’s designation as a World Restoration Flagship, but funding and long-term planning remain critical gaps. 

The report recommends adaptive forest management as a way of coping with human-induced and natural threats, together with integrated fire and pest management, supported by monitoring and early detection systems, and a more coordinated regional approach to actively engage local communities from planning to the monitoring stage. These strategies can help tackle the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation while fostering collaboration across borders. 

The side event featured opening remarks by Mohamed Naoufel Ben Haha, the current chair of Silva Mediterranea, who referred to the committee’s role as a neutral platform for cooperation since its creation in 1948. The main findings of SoMF2025 and key insights on restoration and fire management were presented by the secretariat of Silva Mediterranea hosted by FAO. In his closing remarks, Ümit Turhan, the vice-chair of the committee and Türkiye representative, emphasized the importance of regional solidarity and commended the region’s commitment to innovation in restoration and fire management.  

The event attracted the participation onsite of Mediterranean countries, with Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon and Tunisia attending in person, and over 55 participants joining online, including the Mediterranean Regional Office of the European Forest Institute (EFIMED), Bioversity International, the Association Internationale des Forêts Méditerranéennes (AIFM), and country representatives from France, Italy, Morocco and Spain. 

Mediterranean forests are biodiversity hot spots and vital for climate resilience. The launch of SoMF2025 marks a renewed commitment to shared responsibility and regional cooperation,in alignment with global frameworks like the UN Decade. 

Download the report and learn more about Silva Mediterranea’s initiatives.  

Valentina Garavaglia