Urban and peri-urban forestry in the Mediterranean region

Today, most Mediterranean cities suffer for a lack of green space. Urbanization and the associated process of land consumption continue to increase. Recent decades have been characterized by changes in climate, deep modifications to lifestyles, and heavy landscape alteration, posing major challenges for urban decision-makers. New approaches can help in facing these challenges: high-tech “smart cities” are pursuing new models and tools of urban governance. Planting trees and designing and managing urban forests or parks are still effective ways – in the Mediterranean and elsewhere – to advance quality of life, give lifeblood to city landscapes, build green economies and mitigate the effects of climate change. In recent decades, urban and peri-urban forestry (UPF) has emerged as an integrative, multidisciplinary approach to the planning, design and management of forest and tree resources in and around urban areas. The UPF approach addresses economic, social and environmental challenges by providing multiple services and benefits that are highly valuable for the quality of life of urban dwellers. Potential benefits of urban and peri-urban forests and trees include climate-change mitigation and adaptation in urban areas, supplemental food supply, increased health, well-being, jobs and income, biodiversity conservation, watershed management, and disaster risk prevention.