Building resilience: restoration strategies and policies for Mediterranean forest ecosystems

Mediterranean forest ecosystems face mounting challenges from climate change and human activities. The first session of the Eighth Mediterranean Forest Week (8MFW), titled “Building resilience: restoration strategies and policies for Mediterranean forest ecosystems,” was co-organized by FAO and the General Directorate of Forests (OGM) of Türkiye, with input from various organizations. The session emphasized integrating policies, encouraging community participation and promoting high-quality restoration projects to address these challenges effectively. 

The Mediterranean: aspiring to a global restoration model 

Christophe Besacier, Senior Forestry Officer and Coordinator of the FAO Forest and Landscape Restoration Mechanism (FLRM), outlined the global significance of Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) in tackling ecological, social and economic challenges while promoting biodiversity and climate resilience. Embedded in initiatives such as the Bonn Challenge, United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and Paris Agreement, FLR is vital for sustainable livelihoods. 

In the Mediterranean region, restoration has a long history of implementation on the ground. Modern restoration practices prioritize holistic approaches with diversification, community engagement and evidence-based planning over monoculture afforestation.  

To enhance action on the ground, stakeholders are urged to scale efforts, integrate research for strategic adaptive management, and foster collaboration to increase restoration success and sustainability. The already recognized Mediterranean World Restoration Flagship represents an excellent opportunity to increase regional restoration efforts at scale and to facilitate knowledge sharing among restoration practitioners. 

Lessons learned and best practices could serve as a replicable model for other regions grappling with similar challenges. But to be replicable, restoration needs to be based on standards to ensure quality and accountability. Jordi Cortina-Segarra, Professor of Ecology at the University of Alicante, Spain, and Member of the Board of the Society for Ecological Restoration, highlighted that the role of standards for certification is critical for enhancing the quality and credibility of forest restoration projects. There is a strong need to align global restoration frameworks with regional needs, emphasizing adaptation to local ecosystems, cultural contexts and restoration priorities. Key benefits derived from applied standards for ecosystem restoration include consistent project design and improved restoration outcomes, reduced uncertainty and risks, and increased return on restoration investment. Challenges to be discussed and overcome through regional cooperation include regional disparities, limited capacities, funding gaps and complex certification processes. The next steps will guide the Mediterranean region through testing standards and certification systems regionally, fostering collaboration among stakeholders and integrating lessons into Mediterranean-specific adaptation pathways. Raising awareness, training practitioners and building governance structures are all essential for effective implementation and scalability of standards-based restoration. 

Panel discussion: key restoration themes and practices 

Throughout the panel discussion, several themes emerged as focal points for Mediterranean restoration:

Eray Ozdemir from OGM Türkiye presented how the country integrates ecological and socioeconomic restoration measures, including good practices for species selection, post-fire and mine site restoration.

Abdelmalek Abdelfettah, former Director General of Forests of Algeria, emphasized the Algerian forest restoration strategy, focusing on the 2023 law’s provisions for sustainable forest management.

Elias Chnais, project manager of the FAO Office in Lebanon, showed how the Ministry of Agriculture of Lebanon integrates rangeland management into forest restoration policies, fostering participatory approaches.

Abdelkrim Marzouk, President of the Ifrane Model Forest in Morocco, showcased how ecosystem restoration, biodiversity preservation and improvement of community livelihoods can be a catalyst for local, national and international collaboration, leveraging resources for impactful outcomes.

Naoufel Ben Haha, Director General of Forests of Tunisia presented his country’s efforts to restore degraded Aleppo pine forests in the Governorate of Kasserine. In this area, restoration will enhance resilience against climate change. Efforts include combating prolonged drought, irregular precipitation, and increased susceptibility to pests and diseases. The initiative integrates restoration into national forest management tools while actively involving local populations to protect and sustain forest resources.

Hiba Mohammad, Coordinator of the Mediterranean Youth Taskforce (MYTF), discussed the MYTF’s role in advancing intergenerational equity and youth involvement in restoration. Efforts to integrate young leaders into restoration initiatives would need to be upscaled, ensuring sustainability beyond 2030. 

Conclusions and key messages 

The rich discussion during the session led to four key take-home messages: 

1. The replicability of restoration initiatives stems from the region’s ability to balance local and global perspectives. By fostering regional collaboration, Mediterranean countries can amplify their voice on the global stage, particularly under frameworks like the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Such synergy also reinforces youth, women and marginalized communities' empowerment to take leadership roles. 
2. Restoration is not just about increasing the area restored but also about ensuring that projects are evidence-based, addressing root causes of ecosystem degradation. High-quality restoration enhances ecosystem resilience and fosters long-term sustainability. This approach aligns with advancing standards for certification, which increases accountability, de-risk investments and enhances the impact and equity of restoration projects​. 
3. Community engagement and public awareness are a cornerstone of successful FLR. Transparent communication about the science behind restoration practices reduces resistance and fosters community support and appropriation. Collaborative efforts that involve government agencies, local communities and businesses build trust and create shared responsibility, ensuring sustainable outcomes. 
4. Despite the progress, restoration initiatives face challenges in translating strategies into practical on-the-ground solutions. Administrative barriers and funding gaps hindering large-scale implementation should be identified and removed.  

The road ahead: scaling and sustaining efforts 

Building resilience in Mediterranean forest ecosystems requires comprehensive strategies integrating high-quality restoration, robust policies and inclusive participation. Advancing standards for certification provides a pathway to ecological and social sustainability, ensuring financial support for ambitious restoration goals. 

Empowering communities, women and youth remains central to these efforts. Transparent communication and inclusive participation transform restoration into a shared mission, fostering trust and reducing conflicts. Addressing the socioeconomic needs of local populations further strengthens the impact of restoration initiatives. 

Looking forward, the focus must shift to integrating advanced technologies, fostering transboundary collaboration, and expanding public–private partnerships. These efforts will amplify the scale and impact of restoration in the Mediterranean and beyond. 

The Mediterranean’s leadership in navigating the complexities of climate change, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development serves as a beacon of hope. By prioritizing collaboration, standards and evidence-based strategies, the region can inspire global efforts to restore ecosystems and build resilience in the face of environmental challenges. 

The session was chaired by Valentina Garavaglia (FAO) with Eray Ozdemir (OGM Türkiye) as co-chair and Valentina Garavaglia (FAO) as rapporteur.  

Valentina Garavaglia (FAO), Christophe Besacier (FAO), Eray Ozdemir (OGM) and
Jordi Cortina-Segarra (University of Alicante)