Climate change coupled with profound socioeconomic changes are jeopardising the conservation of Mediterranean forests. Management strategies are urgently needed to enhance forest resilience

Organisation

Key reasons to attend this course

Gain an overview of the threats, opportunities and challenges for Mediterranean forests and their resilience in a context of global change.
Have a thorough understanding on how to apply an operational framework to assess the resilience of Mediterranean forests.
Identify the most adequate management practices to cope with the disturbances threatening forests in the Mediterranean region.
Acquire specific knowledge of strategies and tools for the integration of forest management practices to address multiple threats.
Be aware of the approaches needed to foster the implementation of an integrated forest management and governance.

Lecturers

Bou Dagher Kharrat, Magda - EFIMED, Barcelona (Spain)
Branco, Manuela - Univ. Lisbon (Portugal)
Camarero, Jesús J. - IPE-CSIC, Zaragoza (Spain)
Cervera, Teresa - CPF, Santa Perpètua De Mogoda (Spain)
Díaz-Pines, Eugenio - BOKU, Vienna (Austria)
Duguy, Beatriz - UB, Barcelona (Spain)
Espelta, Josep M. - CREAF, Barcelona (Spain)
Lefèvre, François - INRAE, Avignon, (France)
Lloret, Francisco - UAB-CREAF, Barcelona (Spain)
Piqué, Míriam - CTFC, Solsona (Spain)
Rego, Francisco - Univ. Lisbon (Portugal)

Applied approach
(lectures, practical group work, case studies and technical visit)

Leading international experts

Course in English with interpretation into/from Spanish if needed

Hybrid modality course

Programme

Timetable brochure
  • 0. Opening session and presentation of the course (1 hour)
  • 1. Framing sustainable agriculture in a 21st century perspective (2 hours)
    • 1.1. Mediterranean forests at a glimpse: ecological overview, ecosystem services and socioeconomic aspects
    • 1.2. Main threats, opportunities and challenges of Mediterranean forests and their resilience in a context of global change
    • 1.3. The political framework: from bottom-up to top-down initiatives and strategies
  • 2. Making forest resilience operational: from theory to practice (4 hours)
    • 2.1. What is and how to address resilience in socioecological systems: indicators, metrics, scales and trade-offs
    • 2.2. Key elements for increasing resilience in forests: the Mediterranean case
    • 2.3. Practical group work. Session 1: How to apply the operational resilience framework
  • 3. Adapting forest management practices to improve resilience in Mediterranean-type forests (13 hours)
    • 3.1. Preserving and recovering forest soils and increasing C sequestration
    • 3.2. Coping with droughts and improving water availability
    • 3.3. Protecting forests from pests and diseases
    • 3.4. Facilitating genetic adaptation. Simulation practice
    • 3.5. Preventing the risk of large wildfires
    • 3.6. Promoting heterogeneity and biodiversity
    • 3.7. Practical group work. Session 2: Identification and selection of the most suitable management practices to specific threats
  • 4. Integrating forest management practices to cope with multiple climate change threats in Mediterranean forests (10 hours)
    • 4.1. Needs and challenges for integration
    • 4.2. Technical tools: risk assessment, modelling and planning
    • 4.3. Towards an adaptive management of Mediterranean forests
    • 4.4. Presentation of case studies
      • 4.4.1. Case study on coping with droughts (Spain)
      • 4.4.2. Case studies on post-fire management in southern Europe: Aleppo pine in Valencia and Catalunya Region, Pinus nigra forests (Peloponnese, Greece)
    • 4.5. Practical group work
      • Session 3: How to integrate forest management practices to overcome multiple threats
      • Session 4: Presentation of results and discussion
  • 5. Fostering implementation of integrated forest management and governance in Mediterranean forests (3 hours)
    • 5.1. Policy tools and forest policies at different scales (EU, Mediterranean, country, region)
    • 5.2. Enabling forest governance: social innovation, new collaborative schemes, participatory approaches (citizen science), forest owner’s agreements, land custody
    • 5.3. Bioeconomy and payment for ecosystem services
  • 6. Lessons learned and conclusions (1 hour)
  • 7. Technical visit on Saturday 20th April. Experiments on forest management. Long-term monitoring experience in a forested watershed.

Train at an outstanding international institution

Registration

The course is designed for professionals with a university degree, from public or private sector organizations and is specially oriented to forest area managers, decision-makers, technical advisors, researchers, NGOs and other professionals involved in the planning and management of forest ecosystems in Mediterranean areas.

  • 25 places will be available for face-to-face participation (lectures, practical work and technical visit).
  • 25 places will be available for online participation (lectures).

Knowledge of English will be valued in the selection of candidates.

  • Candidates may apply online at the following address: http://www.admission.iamz.ciheam.org/en/
  • Applications must include the curriculum vitae and a copy of the support documents most related to the subject of the course.
  • The deadline for the submission of applications is 28th January 2024. Extended deadline for candidates that do not request a scholarship or need a visa - 16 February 2024. The deadline may be extended if places are available.
  • Applications from candidates requiring authorization to attend the course may be accepted provisionally.
  • Registration fees for the course amount to 500 euro for face-to-face participation and 350 euro for online participation. This sum covers tuition fees only.
  • Candidates from Mediterranean CIHEAM member countries may apply during the registration process for scholarships covering registration fees and for scholarships covering the cost of travel and full board accommodation in Zaragoza.
  • Candidates from other countries who require financial support should apply directly to other national or international institutions.

It is compulsory for participants in face-to-face modality to have medical insurance valid for Spain. Proof of insurance cover must be given at the beginning of the course. Those who so wish may participate in a collective insurance policy taken out by the Organization, upon payment of the stipulated sum.

CIHEAM Zaragoza

Av. Montañana 1005, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain

www.iamz.ciheam.org

iamz@iamz.ciheam.org

+34 976716000

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