Impact of Climate Change on Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems

This paper synthesizes the observed impacts of climate change on Mediterranean forest ecosystems characterized by three altitudinal belts. It examines projected temperature increases of 1–9°C in summer and precipitation declines of up to 25% in the April–September period, alongside historical trends of warming and reduced rainfall. The study details how drought-adapted species such as holm oak and Aleppo pine respond to drier springs, how montane species like silver fir and beech face heightened vulnerability to repeated droughts at low altitude but may benefit from extended growing seasons at higher elevations, and how intermediate supra-Mediterranean species, including Atlas cedar and white oak, are affected. It highlights impacts on phenology, growth, health condition, and carbon sequestration, and underscores the need for process-based models to validate and quantify future changes.