<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The Mediterranean Basin covers more than 2 million square kilometres and is surrounded by three continents: Africa, Asia and Europe. The Basin that is rich in biodiversity has tilted towards warmer and drier conditions over the last decades. The emerging climatic conditions particularly the increase in the number of climate extremes are bringing new threats and risks that will exacerbate existing pressures. The present study thoroughly reviewed the recent scientific literature and synthesized existing body of knowledge on the impacts (direct and indirect) of climate change on forest ecosystem services in the Mediterranean Basin. Despite many uncertainties about climate change in the Basin, there appears to be a consensus among a number of studies that climate change is having and will continue to have mostly negative impacts on the Mediterranean forest ecosystem services (wood and non-wood forest products, water resources, carbon storage and recreation and tourism) with possible substantial impacts in the future. Further, evidence is mounting that climate-induced natural disturbances (fires, insect pests, and pathogenic diseases) are becoming frequent and severe. The Mediterranean plants are known for their resilience to natural disturbances. However, the novel climatic conditions may exceed their resilience and alter the ecosystem services. Therefore, there is the need to mitigate the challenges posed by climate change and adapt forest management practices to impending changes to sustain the forest ecosystem services.</p>
</abstract>

The Mediterranean Basin covers more than 2 million square kilometres and is surrounded by three continents: Africa, Asia and Europe. The Basin that is rich in biodiversity has tilted towards warmer and drier conditions over the last decades. The emerging climatic conditions particularly the increase in the number of climate extremes are bringing new threats and risks that will exacerbate existing pressures. The present study thoroughly reviewed the recent scientific literature and synthesized existing body of knowledge on the impacts (direct and indirect) of climate change on forest ecosystem services in the Mediterranean Basin. Despite many uncertainties about climate change in the Basin, there appears to be a consensus among a number of studies that climate change is having and will continue to have mostly negative impacts on the Mediterranean forest ecosystem services (wood and non-wood forest products, water resources, carbon storage and recreation and tourism) with possible substantial impacts in the future. Further, evidence is mounting that climate-induced natural disturbances (fires, insect pests, and pathogenic diseases) are becoming frequent and severe. The Mediterranean plants are known for their resilience to natural disturbances. However, the novel climatic conditions may exceed their resilience and alter the ecosystem services. Therefore, there is the need to mitigate the challenges posed by climate change and adapt forest management practices to impending changes to sustain the forest ecosystem services.

A Review on Climate Change Impacts on Forest Ecosystem Services in the Mediterranean Basin

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi

Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro Quinta de Prados

Journal of Landscape Ecology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The Mediterranean Basin covers more than 2 million square kilometres and is surrounded by three continents: Africa, Asia and Europe. The Basin that is rich in...

A Review on Climate Change Impacts on Forest Ecosystem Services in the Mediterranean Basin

Publié en ligne: 23 juin 2022

Pages: 1 - 26

Reçu: 20 déc. 2021

Accepté: 25 janv. 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jlecol-2022-0001

Mots clés
global change, ecosystem services, forest resources, mediterranean region

© 2022 Bright Danso Appiagyei et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

A Review on Climate Change Impacts on Forest Ecosystem Services in the Mediterranean Basin

Publié en ligne: 23 juin 2022

Pages: 1 - 26

Reçu: 20 déc. 2021

Accepté: 25 janv. 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jlecol-2022-0001

Mots clésglobal change, ecosystem services, forest resources, mediterranean region

© 2022 Bright Danso Appiagyei et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Mots clés
global change, ecosystem services, forest resources, mediterranean region