La expansión forestal en la Cuenca Mediterránea: Políticas necesarias para optimizar la resiliencia del paisaje y la provisión de servicios de los ecosistemas

This post is also available in English here Los bosques en la Cuenca Mediterránea poseen altos niveles de biodiversidad y han sido explotados durante milenios, proporcionando servicios de los ecosistemas (SE) esenciales para la sociedad. La multifuncionalidad es una característica de estos socio-ecosistemas en los que los productos y servicios no maderables pueden llegar a ser muy importantes para la sociedad en términos tanto de … Continue reading La expansión forestal en la Cuenca Mediterránea: Políticas necesarias para optimizar la resiliencia del paisaje y la provisión de servicios de los ecosistemas

Spontaneous forest expansion in the Mediterranean basin: Which policy mix maximizes ecosystem service provision and resilience at the landscape level?

In their latest Policy Direction, Varela and colleagues examine ecosystem services and ecosystem disservices of forests in the Mediterranean Basin and the policies influencing forest expansion. This post is also available in Spanish here Forests in the Mediterranean basin have been managed for millennia. They provide key ecosystem services (ES) to society and host within them high levels of biodiversity. Some of them depend on … Continue reading Spontaneous forest expansion in the Mediterranean basin: Which policy mix maximizes ecosystem service provision and resilience at the landscape level?

Private boats in the Mediterranean have extremely high potential to spread alien species

British Ecological Society press release A Mediterranean-wide study has found that 71% of sampled recreational boats hosted alien marine species. Over half carried an alien species that was not yet present in the marina the boat was visiting. The research is published in the British Ecological Society Journal of Applied Ecology. This is the first study in the Mediterranean to combine boat and marina sampling data … Continue reading Private boats in the Mediterranean have extremely high potential to spread alien species

Deer prevent severe canopy fires, save oak trees and contribute to ecosystem carbon storage

While deer may impact tree regeneration, they can also help prevent the spread of severe wildfires. Given increased likelihood of extreme climatic events, such as droughts, Miguel Bugalho explains how we need to consider both the positive and negative effects of wild ungulate grazing.  Deer mitigate severe wildfires Wild ungulate herbivores, namely deer, may negatively affect tree regeneration through consumption and damage of young seedlings … Continue reading Deer prevent severe canopy fires, save oak trees and contribute to ecosystem carbon storage

Forest certification can benefit cork oak woodlands

In this guest post, Filipe S. Dias provides a summary of his recent paper “Effects of forest certification on the ecological condition of Mediterranean streams“. In Mediterranean regions, streams and riparian habitats support dense and productive forest ecosystems that contrast strongly with the adjacent semi-arid habitats. During the hot and dry Mediterranean summer these habitats provide food and water to several animal species and harbour … Continue reading Forest certification can benefit cork oak woodlands