The third edition of the Status of Mediterranean Forests (SoMF 2025) has been officially launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Silva Mediterranea, the Committee on Mediterranean Forestry Questions, during the 6th Near East Forestry Week in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia the first week of October 2025.
The new report provides the most comprehensive overview yet of Mediterranean forests and their trends. It addresses pressing challenges such as degradation, biodiversity loss, climate change impacts and wildfires, while highlighting nature-based solutions, including forest and landscape restoration, integrated fire management and post-fire recovery.
Relevant data:
Mediterranean forests at a glance
- Forests and other wooded lands cover 28% of the Mediterranean’s land area, while croplands and grasslands occupy 61%, underscoring the need for integrated land-use strategies.
- Between 1990 and 2020, forest area in the Mediterranean expanded by 12% (an increase of 14.6 million ha), though expansion has slowed in recent years.
- 99.2 million hectares of forest area were recorded in 2020 across Mediterranean countries.
- Western Mediterranean countries account for 49% of total forest area, Eastern for 41%, and Southern for 10%.
- About 25% of all Mediterranean forests are located within protected areas (an increase of 21% since 2010).
Wildfires and climate risks
- From 2010 to 2023, the region recorded an average of 1,590 fires per year, burning 395,000 hectares annually.
- Western Mediterranean countries and Algeria experienced the largest burnt areas relative to total forest cover.
- Around 30% of the region is highly vulnerable to desertification, compounded by droughts, wildfires, and invasive species.
- In 2017 alone, 1.3 million hectares burned across Mediterranean countries – the worst fire year in a decade.
Restoration and recovery
- The Mediterranean hosts 80 million hectares of land with restoration potential.
- Between 2017 and 2022, 1.3–2.3 million hectares were restored under the Agadir Commitment, endorsed by nine countries.
- The region has been designated a United Nations World Restoration Flagship, recognizing its global leadership in forest and landscape restoration
The full report is now available online. Download the Status of Mediterranean Forests 2025 here
