The Silva Mediterranea High-Level Segment: advancing Mediterranean forests for climate resilience and ecosystem restoration

Mediterranean forests are facing an escalating crisis due to the combined pressures of climate change and unsustainable resource use, which threaten the existence of these ecosystems. 

The High-Level Segment held during the Eighth Mediterranean Forest Week in Barcelona, Spain, was a milestone in the ongoing effort to preserve and restore Mediterranean forests. This gathering brought together representatives from governments and international organizations, and experts to discuss how to strengthen collaborative efforts and outline a vision for the future of Mediterranean forests. These forests are vital for climate resilience, biodiversity conservation and disaster risk reduction. The session emphasized the importance of science-based solutions and regional cooperation.  

Towards a road map for the preservation and restoration of Mediterranean forests 

The road map for preserving and restoring Mediterranean forests is centred around three key goals: preserving and restoring forest ecosystems and sustainably using the services that they provide. The next steps will focus on creating a more inclusive and intersectoral initiative by building on existing platforms. Emphasis is placed on better integrating science, policy and practice at all levels. 

This ambitious programme, called the Mediterranean Forest Initiative (MFI), is expected to run for a decade starting in 2025, and is built on the foundations of existing regional platforms and institutional frameworks, such as the Agadir Commitment, Brummana Declaration, Agadir Declaration, Antalya Ministerial Declaration, Barcelona Convention/Mediterranean Action Plan of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and Athens Declaration. Mediterranean countries are striving to enhance the protection and restoration of Mediterranean forests through the implementation of a holistic, intersectoral approach. The road map aims to provide an enhanced framework and scaled-up scientific and practical support to those working on the front lines of forest conservation. At its core, the MFI is about facilitating cross-sectoral, interdisciplinary and interministerial action on forests, engaging a wide range of actors to deliver relevant and replicable solutions. 

A taskforce for the initiative is expected to be established involving the secretariat of Silva Mediterranea, member countries, technical institutions and donors, ensuring that a bottom-up approach is followed and that the initiative is aligned with existing frameworks and addresses regional priorities. This taskforce will be facilitated by the secretariat of Silva Mediterranea. 

Round-table discussion on regional cooperation and engagement 

The round-table session highlighted the importance of moving from reactive to proactive disaster risk management, as emphasized by Maria Jesus Rodriguez de Sancho from the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge. She stressed the need for post-restoration efforts that benefit biodiversity and improve societal well-being. 

Chadi Mohanna from the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture stressed the significance of the work already being carried out by multiple entities in the Mediterranean region towards making Mediterranean forests more sustainable, and the importance of sharing and bringing existing efforts together under a common platform. Mohanna also raised concerns about the underutilization of available funding. For proper utilization of resources and the MFI’s success, it was fundamental, he said, that Silva Mediterranea, a historical statutory body well established in the region, catalyses the process through the broader engagement of all Silva Mediterranea members and other existing partners and stakeholders. Ümit Turhan, Chair of Silva Mediterranea, and Enrico Pompei from the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, both emphasized the importance of strengthening regional cooperation among member countries and improving communication between scientists and policymakers to enhance the collective impact of restoration efforts. 

Abdallah Alzyod, from the Ministry of Environment of Jordan, emphasized the importance of establishing an effective process to develop the joint road map shared with all parties and countries. He proposed establishing a task force to finalize the road map over the next months, with active participation from the focal points for forest, environment, climate and civil society of countries and partners, with a view to fostering shared responsibilities and stronger cooperation. The task force would work on identifying shared objectives, priority actions and the timeline.  

Andrea Kutter, from the World Bank Group, outlined the organization’s support for scaling up forest restoration initiatives. Kutter emphasized the significance of a people-centred approach and private sector engagement, and the importance of securing financial resources to scale up forest-related efforts and amplify the impact of such efforts. In line with the World Bank’s strategy, a focus on the economic value of forests was stressed as a critical step for engaging the private sector and mobilizing additional support for forest restoration programmes. The strategy also highlighted the need to overcome the limited capacity of local partners, governments and organizations, which remains a significant hurdle in implementing large-scale forest initiatives. She concluded by encouraging all present to implement the road map, with the help of all existing organizations to guide that activity and channel technical assistance and investments. She also noted that Silva Mediterranea could be an excellent platform for coordinating and sharing progress and fostering knowledge exchange.  

Funding strategies 

Attention was brought to the wildfire and forest resilience strategy of California, which has seen hundreds of millions of dollars invested through the state’s carbon trade programme. An important question was raised about the potential for initiatives like the MFI to draw from existing frameworks such as the Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership, which integrates climate change actions across the region. 

The MFI could benefit from considering successful funding models, such as those implemented in Australia and the United States of America. These models could provide innovative ideas for securing financial resources to support Mediterranean forests. 

The Barcelona Convention was mentioned as an ideal framework for expanding funding across the Mediterranean. The upcoming fiftieth anniversary of the Barcelona Convention in 2026 was also discussed as a potential milestone for reviewing its framework and exploring new avenues for funding ecosystem restoration initiatives in the region. 

Collaboration and challenges in data collection and knowledge sharing 

One prominent challenge discussed was data collection, which requires integrating scientific expertise and engaging representatives from scientific institutions. In this respect, a frequently raised concern was the underutilization of scientific research. Approximately 20 percent of research findings are not properly utilized due to issues like data not being published or written in ways that are accessible to policymakers. 

This is particularly evident in southern Mediterranean countries, where fewer data are available although their availability and access would be vital for decision makers. Current examples of web portals for open data were presented, such as those promoted by the Ministry of Ecological Transition in Spain for biodiversity monitoring and the Italian Forest Information System, which aggregates data from Forest Europe to support forest management planning.  

Key takeaways and next steps 

The session underscored the importance of putting people at the centre of forest restoration efforts, not just in terms of local communities but also in the broader context of the rural–urban interface and agroforestry. Elevating financial support for Mediterranean forests, with both private and public financing, was stressed as critical, alongside innovative finance mechanisms like climate finance. 

The session called for more inclusive knowledge sharing and data integration: the Mediterranean region harbours a wealth of knowledge in forest management, and it is crucial to capture this knowledge and integrate it into policymaking. 

Christophe Besacier (FAO) and Elisabeth Sellwood (UNEP)