EFIMED’s September newsletter: Mediterranean forests, soil health and innovation in focus
The September edition of the EFI Mediterranean Network News highlights new knowledge, policy updates and collaborative initiatives shaping the future of Mediterranean forests and landscapes.
A major feature is the launch of the Status of Mediterranean Forests 2025 report by FAO and Silva Mediterranea at the 6th Near East Forestry Week in Jeddah. EFIMED contributed an in-depth analysis of the drivers of degradation, including climate and land-use change, grazing and wildfire, offering recommendations for adaptive management and stronger regional cooperation.
This issue also shares the latest advances in soil monitoring and resilience. EFI’s recent policy brief highlights HoliSoils’ harmonised methodology to support the EU Soil Monitoring Law, while the project has also launched its autumn webinar series on biodiversity, peatlands, and carbon cycling. HoliSoils’ work further features in a new CORDIS Results Pack on microbiomes in the bioeconomy.
Research and innovation are in the spotlight, from Dr Shoji Hashimoto’s study using AI to improve predictions of soil carbon storage, to new findings on Mediterranean tree diversity and extinction risk published by Bruno Fady (INRAE). The newsletter also reports on ecosystem service payments in Bulgaria, the approval of “Fire Wine” and “Fire Product” labels for wildfire prevention, and creative design uses for bark beetle-damaged wood.
Across the region, projects and networks continue to connect people and ideas. Portugal joins the Mediterranean Model Forest Network, Tuscany embeds Model Forests into its forestry law, and joint conferences such as the FOREST4EU–ResAlliance event in Croatia bring together foresters, farmers and researchers.
As ever, this edition includes calls, upcoming events and publications from all over the Mediterranean, as well as items of interest from elsewhere.
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Contribute to the next issue! Contact: Sarah Adams, Editor, EFI Mediterranean Facility, Barcelona.
