1. Forest Landscape Restoration
in a Mediterranean Context
Aristotelis C. Papageorgiou
Department of Forestry, Environment and Natural Resources,
Democritus University of Thrace, Greece
Castellabate 2003

2. Presentation plan
• The Mediterranean forests
• Forest management and biodiversity
conservation
• Relevance of FLR in the Med
• Special cases of Mediterranean interest:
– Restoration after fire
– Mitigation of desertification
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 2

3. What is so special about the Med?
• Biological, cultural, social, historical diversity
• Biological diversity:
– rich mosaic of changing ecosystems and land use
patterns (from alpine to tropical)
– Large amount of species (especially plants) – high
endemism
– Populations of species with a broader distribution
are the most variable in terms of genetic diversity
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 3

4. Reasons of high biodiversity
• The relief of the Mediterranean basin
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 4

5. Reasons of high biodiversity
• The Mediterranean
climate
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 5

6. Reasons of high biodiversity
• The glaciations era – refugia
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 6

7. Human and biodiversity
• Most ancient
human cultures
• Centre of the
“known world”
• Organized trade
and land use
• First “globalized”
economies
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 7

8. May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 8

9. Direct use of plant species
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 9

10. Direct use of plant species
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 10

11. Human shaping nature
Agriculture, grazing,
fuelwood collection, etc.
shape the landscape…
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 11

12. Mediterranean co-evolution
• Degradation – desertification
– loss of ecosystem
productivity
• Mainly small scale activities –
high land use diversity –
fragmentation
• Natural forest ecosystems –
mixed forests – protective role
against erosion, drought –
social importance for RD
• Recreation – quality of life
• Culture – spirituality
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 12

13. Mediterranean forests
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 13

14. Mediterranean vs. N. European
- extensive instead of intensive
production – many products –
combined uses / mosaic
- mountainous forests
- close to nature forestry
- social & protective role has
priority
- low economic significance &
political priority – weak forest
sector – important NTFP sector
- human / forest co-evolution
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 14

15. “Mosaic” - forest landscape
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 15

16. “Mosaic” - forest landscape
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 16

17. Northern vs. Southern Mediterranean
• SOUTH: ecosystems pushed beyond the point of
self-recovery - pressure from grazing, fuelwood
collection and other uses - resources are gradually
exhausted - desertification
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 17

18. Northern vs. Southern Mediterranean
• NORTH: shift of the rural population towards the
cities - reduced quantity and quality of forest
management - wildfires, non-sustainable uses and
conversion of forests to other land uses -
desertification
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 18

19. Deforestation – urban expansion
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 19

20. Is biodiversity at stake?
• Disturbance of human – nature balance
• Alteration of the Med biodiversity profile
• Biodiversity is rather dynamic than static
• The dynamic systems are broken (genetic, ecological,
nutrients, water, energy, etc.)
• Ecosystem are not able to provide goods and services in the
long term – desertification.
• The restoration of the ability of Mediterranean
ecosystems to continue their dynamic function
should become the target of any conservation
effort in the region
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 20

21. Forest management
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 21

22. Forest management in the Med
• Management strategies & techniques imported from
the central and northern counties of Europe -
production of timber is priority in most cases
• Apply on the more temperate forests of the
Mediterranean region - ignore the non-productive
terrestrial ecosystems (I.e. maquis)
• Fail to capture the complexity of Mediterranean
forests
• The spatial reference of SFM is the stand and not
the broader landscape - more appropriate for the
description of the human - nature dynamics
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 22

23. SFM is good – can it help here?
• Most endangered by mismanagement, abandonment and
desertification
• Most diverse in all levels
• Most crucial for soil protection and the water cycle – closest
to human settlements
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 23

24. Forest protection in the Med
• Protection concepts and strategies imported from
northern counties with empty spaces and productive
forests - human influence on BD is ignored
• Based mainly on the “set – aside” principle
• Focus on absolute protection or special
management of specific biological entities or spatial
units – miss the broader picture
• Restricted to reserves and networks
• Selection of protected items – majority remains
unprotected
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 24

25. Forest protection and raptors
• Raptors need gaps and openings in the forest, maintained by
small scale grazing & logging
• Absolute protection for 20 years increased the density of the
forest stand
• Raptors moved to the non-protected part of the forest
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 25

26. “Other wooded land”
• Most Mediterranean countries have a large
percentage of terrestrial ecosystems characterized as
“other wooded land” – not protected – not
managed
• The classical protection / SFM approach has a
spatial gap of about 50%
• The classical protection / SFM approach cannot
cope with the dynamic nature of Mediterranean
forests
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 26

27. Combination of activities
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 27

28. Restoration in the Mediterranean
• Many Mediterranean countries have given priority to forest
restoration - programmes have been performed
• Restoration = reforestation = tree planting
• Reforestations are less and worse than needed - aim at the
creation of “high forest” stands – not always possible in Med
• Lack of organisation in a broader scale - lack of continuity -
absence of support from the public during restoration
• Use of wrong material and techniques
• Ad hoc basis, without prior planning
• Stand level - the broader landscape context, including
economic and social issues, is not considered
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 28

29. Key features of FLR
o FLR combines existing development, conservation and
natural resource management principles
o Seeks to advance both ecological integrity and human well-
being, particularly in respect to improving rural livelihoods
o Focuses on the goods, services and processes rather than
trees.
o Scales-up action to a landscape level (e.g. watershed).
o Recognises and attempts to balance land-use tradeoffs
o Is a multisectoral approach extending the decision-making
process to all key stakeholders.
o Recognises the need to address the root causes of
degradation and forest loss
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 29

30. Why FLR in the Mediterranean?
Concerns the restoration of functionality of landscapes and
respects their dynamic nature, as well as their complexity.
Considers landscapes in a broader level, including biological and
social values and parameters.
Fills the gap between SFM and protection and acts in a
complementary way for the protection and enhancement of
ecosystem integrity, especially of degraded forests.
Involves stakeholders and encourages participation - secures
long-term existence of the benefits for the society.
The most appropriate tool against desertification, due to its
holistic approach and the integration of social, economic and
ecological parameters in planning procedures
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 30

31. How can FLR be applied?
Restoration after fire
Restoration as a measure to mitigate
desertification
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 31

32. Restoration after fire
The problem of forest fires in the Mediterranean:
• Fire fighting in an ad hoc basis
• Prevention is poor – focus on suppression
• Restoration is actual only for some weeks in Autumn – poor
quality and quantity
An FLR strategy for the restoration of burnt forests includes:
• The design of proper restoration techniques, based on
natural dynamics
• Measures dealing with the underlying causes of forest fires /
prevention actions
• A coordination basis for all parties involved in forest fire
prevention, suppression and restoration
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 32

33. So, what is different?
Usual procedure after a large fire:
• Professionals from forest administration decide which area
should be planted and how many plants should be used.
• The area is cleaned and the vegetation is replaced –
professionals in the large scale – plants chosen for several
reasons including shape, tolerance, etc.
• Some voluntary actions include planting of several trees by
individuals or groups – PR work – no continuity.
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 33

34. So, what is different?
FLR approach after a large fire:
• Describe the whole landscape that surrounds the burnt area
– consider natural regeneration – consider fire ecological
cycle
• Decide on the priorities for the area burnt – amenity,
production, protection… - involve parties
• Set a target and work on it in a complementary to natural
procedures – use proper material / proper ground / proper
methodology.
• Plan restoration activities considering long term trends,
threats, such as new fires, grazing, conversion…
• Address and work against the underlying causes of fire (in
order to avoid new ones), involving parties.
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 34

35. Desertification
Underlying cause: the lack of coordination between
existing environmental and social policies in the
Mediterranean region
Forest policy vs. environmental policy, development
policies & perverse funding, etc.
Overlaps and gaps
FLR can act as an integration mechanism for existing
policies, strategies and measures and combine land
use planning with the management of resources.
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 35

36. Forest Policy Network - Greece
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 36

37. Possible constraints
• FLR could be considered as one of the new concepts –
ecosystem approach, close to nature forestry, etc.
• Who will coordinate the FLR framework? Authorities in
many cases cannot cooperate.
• Participation has no legal & institutional basis in many
Mediterranean countries.
• Lack of inventories, data, land use regulations.
• Contradictory legal framework for a horizontal activity, such
as the FLR.
• The success of FLR often depends on the “good practices”
of other activities and sectors.
• FLR is a solution for long term benefits for the society –
Short term economic interests may oppose this approach.
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 37

38. Suggested first steps (?)
Clarify what it is about:
• Not a cookbook, cannot be applied everywhere
• Is dynamic & should be flexible at each case
• Is combining the efforts of existing actions and measures
Ask the responsible authorities for their view – let them adopt
the concept – do not accuse wrong practices of the past.
Work with low budget activities – no large communication
events – seek for the added value – model projects
Let partners of successful cases promote the idea of FLR
Promote and support research on the application of FLR
Try to influence international and regional policy procedures,
that may promote the idea of FLR, or its approach and main
ideas – not its name necessarily.
May 8, 2003 FLR in the Mediterranean 38