Protecting the Mediterranean's forests

A new partnership for Mediterranean forests has been set up to address major threats to the region’s woodlands exacerbated by the severe impacts of climate change. The venture was announced Wednesday at the Second Mediterranean Forest Week, which is currently underway in Avignon, France.

It involves twelve institutions and organizations including the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

The partnership will focus direct action primarily on six countries of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Syria, Lebanon and Turkey.

Lydia O’Kane spoke to Eduardo Rojas-Briales, Assistant Director General of the FAO Forestry Department about the initiative.

He says, “we are working with countries in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean to develop advanced forest policies that are able to face the challenges ahead of us.”

Mr Rojas Briales adds that one of those challenges is forest fires .

The Second Mediterranean Forest Week runs until April 8^th. Listen