What we do
StrategyMedFor tackles sustainable management of Mediterranean forests by creating a strategy for each forest type, taking future climates into account. We leverage new technologies and combine data across the region to develop this strategy. Our goal is to make this strategy a key document for the next decade, providing scientific recommendations for forest protection, restoration, and building resilience. We’ll also create tools to improve sustainable management at all levels.
TIMELINE
Based on maps and geodata, combined with the expertise of project and associated partners and the review of existing literature, the project will determine criteria and sub-criteria to define the status and quality of Mediterranean forests.
Jan 2024 – Jan 2025
Jan 2025 – Jun 2025
These criteria will be adapted to information layers and geodata to generate a map of high ecological value forests, degraded forests and abandoned lands. Adding other data, the project will produce a final map of priority areas for protection, restoration and resilient management.
Our methods will be evaluated and tested in 3 countries: Greece, North Macedonia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Both criteria and cartography will be validated on the field in 3 different pilot sites (cf below).
Jun 2025 – Jan 2026
Jan 2026 – Jun 2026
Transfer of knowledge, capacity building, exchange of experience, governance, networking and transboundary activities between various public, private and non-governmental Mediterranean Institutions (research, management, development and/or education) at several scales (international, EU and local) are planned for the successful development of the StrategyMedFor project.
Jan 2024 - Jan 2025: Criteria & Indicators
Based on maps and geodata, combined with the expertise of project and associated partners and the review of existing literature, the project will determine criteria and sub-criteria to define the status and quality of Mediterranean forests.
Jan 2025 - Jun 2025: Map of Priority Areas
These criteria will be adapted to information layers and geodata to generate a map of high ecological value forests, degraded forests and abandoned lands. Adding other data, the project will produce a final map of priority areas for protection, restoration and resilient management.
JUn 2025 - JAn 2026: Evaluation of the SSMMF
The Strategy for Sustainable Management of Mediterranean Forests (SSMMF) and our methods will be evaluated and tested in 3 countries: Greece, North Macedonia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Both criteria and cartography will be validated on the field in 3 different pilot sites (cf below).
JAn 2026 - JUn 2026: Transfer of knowledge
Transfer of knowledge, capacity building, exchange of experience, governance, networking and transboundary activities between various public, private and non-governmental Mediterranean Institutions (research, management, development and/or education) at several scales (international, EU and local) are planned for the successful development of the StrategyMedFor project.
PILOT SITES
Our 3 pilot sites, carefully selected and managed, stand as a cornerstone of the project’s mission. Project Partners and Associated Partners converge at the grounds of these sites: Dinaric Alps (Sarajevo Canton, mountains Bjelašnica and Igman – Bosnia & Herzegovina), Samaria National Park (Greece), and Galičica National Park (North Macedonia).
The data collected on these sites fuels the optimization and validation of the Strategy for Sustainable Management of Mediterranean Forests (SSMMF) framework and its consequent thematic cartography. Through field observations and expert consultations, strategies will be validated and refined, ensuring their efficacy and relevance. These plans, shaped by local priorities and cartographic insights, pave the way for targeted actions in protection, restoration, and sustainable management.
The StrategyMedFor project is a multifaceted effort, but our core mission is clear: to develop a robust and adaptable strategy for sustainable management of Mediterranean forests. Through a combination of cutting-edge technologies, in-depth research, and collaborative partnerships, we’re working towards a future where these vital ecosystems thrive.
