History of Silva Mediterranea: foundation, changes and current structure
16/09/2024
Silva Mediterranea, a statutory body of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has played a pivotal role in fostering cooperation and sustainable forest management in the Mediterranean region for over a century. Its focus is on sustainable forest management, the socioeconomic well-being of forest-dependent communities, and critical issues like biodiversity conservation, climate change and desertification.
Early foundations and formalization (1911–1948)
The concept of Mediterranean forestry cooperation first emerged in 1911, introduced by Robert Hickel, a French forester who recognized the unique challenges of managing Mediterranean forests. This led to the formation of the Mediterranean Forestry League in 1922, known as Sylva Méditerranea, when forest experts from France, Italy, Spain and Yugoslavia met in Marseille, France to establish this collaborative body.
In 1948, Sylva Méditerranea came under FAO’s umbrella as the Subcommission on Mediterranean Forestry Problems, marking its formal establishment as a subsidiary body of the European Forestry Commission (EFC). This reorganization allowed Mediterranean countries to collaborate on forestry issues, share experiences and address the specific challenges faced by their respective forest sectors.
Expansion and formal recognition (1950s–1970s)
The 1950s marked a period of formal recognition and expansion for Silva Mediterranea. During the Fifth Session of the Joint Subcommission on Mediterranean Forestry Problems – Silva Mediterranea, which was held from 27 to 29 May 1956 at the Centre universitaire méditerranéen in Nice, France, the name Silva Mediterranea was officially adopted to honour the legacy of the original Mediterranean Forestry League and emphasize continuity. By 1960, the organization had established clear operational procedures and expanded its membership to include countries from the Near East and Africa. In 1970, the subcommission underwent another transformation, reflected by its new name AFC/EFC/NEFC Committee on Mediterranean Forestry Questions – Silva Mediterranea, and bringing together the Mediterranean Member Countries of the European Forestry Commission (EFC), the Near East Forestry Commission (NEFRC) and the African Forestry Commission (AFC), which later became the African Forestry and Wildlife Commission (AFWC).
Revitalization and strategic shifts (1980s–2000s)
The Twelfth Session of the AFC/EFC/NEFC Committee on Mediterranean Forestry Questions – Silva Mediterranea in Montpellier, France in 1985 focused on reviewing regional forest land-use trends and emphasized the importance of strengthening regional cooperation in areas such as forest management and fire protection. In 2002, during its Eighteenth Session in Rome, Italy, an external evaluation led to strong recommendations to reinvigorate Silva Mediterranea. The committee proposed that its research networks become working groups with specific mandates, clear objectives and established time frames. This shift aimed to make Silva Mediterranea more responsive to the emerging needs of Mediterranean countries, particularly in sustainable forest management and implementing international environmental conventions.
The Mediterranean Forest Weeks: a key forum on forestry in the region (2010s)
The first Mediterranean Forest Week (MFW) was organized in 2010 in Antalya, Türkiye, as a central platform for regional collaboration on Mediterranean forestry issues. Organized by Silva Mediterranea and its member countries and partner organizations through the formation of a Joint Organizing Committee (JOC), this event brings together experts, policymakers and key stakeholders to address and advance sustainable forestry practices in the Mediterranean. Silva Mediterranea’s role is crucial in the planning and coordination of these meetings and ensuring they lead to impactful outcomes.
1MFW (Antalya, Türkiye, 2010): This inaugural event emphasized enhanced regional cooperation on Mediterranean forests. It laid the foundation for subsequent MFWs by fostering networking among Mediterranean actors.
2MFW (Avignon, France, 2011): Held in the prestigious Palais des Papes, this week celebrated Silva Mediterranea’s centenary and focused on biodiversity and water management in Mediterranean forests. It marked a significant milestone in raising awareness about the importance of forest conservation.
3MFW (Tlemcen, Algeria, 2013): This edition introduced the Tlemcen Declaration, highlighting the critical role of Mediterranean forests in sustainable development.
- 4MFW (Barcelona, Spain, 2015): The theme of this edition was improving livelihoods through forest value chains. The Barcelona Declaration set a renewed framework for regional collaboration, focusing on forest-based economic opportunities and sustainability.
5MFW (Agadir, Morocco, 2017): This week led to the Agadir Commitment, aiming to restore 8 million hectares of Mediterranean landscapes by 2030. It addressed broader regional challenges and emphasized the importance of integrated restoration efforts.
6MFW (Brummana, Lebanon, 2019): Held from 1 to 5 April 2019, the 6MFW focused on how Mediterranean forests could help countries meet their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. The event highlighted the role of forests in climate action and featured the Brummana Declaration, which combined the Agadir Commitment with NDCs. It emphasized empowering young professionals and integrating forest-based solutions into national climate strategies.
7MFW (Antalya, 2021): The theme focused on forest and ecosystem restoration for the next Mediterranean generations. It emphasized restoring degraded lands and enhancing forest health. The Antalya Declaration called for increased restoration efforts and regional collaboration to address environmental and climate challenges. This edition also included a youth dialogue, which resulted in a Mediterranean Youth Statement. Overall, the 7MFW highlighted the need and a commitment to involve more young people in participating in forest issues in the region. This led to the creation of the Mediterranean Youth Taskforce as a youth-led network that engages young professionals, students and researchers across the region.
8MFW (Barcelona, 2024): Focused on restoration efforts in the region, the 8MFW promises to continue the tradition of fostering regional cooperation and addressing critical forestry issues with a focus on sustainable practices and innovative solutions.
Recent developments and current structure
In 2022, Silva Mediterranea held its Twenty-Fourth Session, and in 2024 it will hold its Twenty-Fifth Session, highlighting its enduring commitment to regional cooperation. The organization includes 27 member countries (Albania, Algeria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Türkiye, Yemen – and the European Union). Silva Mediterranea is chaired by Ümit Turhan, Deputy Head of Department at the General Directorate of Forestry, Türkiye. Giovanbattista de Dato has been leading the secretariat, through the support of the Italian Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA) since 2020.
Silva Mediterranea operates through five active working groups: Non-Wood Forest Products, Forest Fires, Forest Genetic Resources, Urban and Peri-Urban Forestry, and Desertification and Restoration. In addition, the Mediterranean Youth Taskforce, as an independent youth network, plays a critical role in integrating the voices of the younger generation into the region’s forest sector.
Global and regional impact
Silva Mediterranea has contributed to the drafting of key publications focusing on the region’s forest sector. In 1999, the first issue of Unasylva, FAO’s forestry journal was published, focusing on the region. In 2013, the first issue of the State of Mediterranean Forest (SoMF) was launched, followed by the second issue of Unasylva, titled “A new dynamic for Mediterranean forests”. The second issue of the SoMF was launched in 2018, and the third one is expected to be launched in 2025. In 2024, Silva Mediterranea guided the drafting and publication of issue 255 of Unasylva 255, titled “Restoring the Mediterranean region: status and challenges”.
The Restoring Mediterranean Forests flagship of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration is spearheaded by Silva Mediterranea. It is one of 17 flagships in the world that showcase large-scale and long-term ecosystem restoration to enhance biodiversity, carbon sequestration, water regulation and climate change mitigation, and provide socioeconomic benefits to local communities. In the Mediterranean, the flagship focuses on scaling up mosaic landscape restoration, with Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Türkiye as pilot countries, while addressing the degradation of forest ecosystems through proactive forest management.
Satia Ras, Lucia Rivera and Giovanbattista de Dato