Challenges to management of evergreen oak forest systems in the Mediterranean basin

Abstract

Evergreen oaks (Quercus suber, Quercus rotundifolia, Quercus ilex) in the Mediterranean basin are frequently managed as an artificial multifunctional system (montado) of two or three components (forest, grazing and agriculture). Montado systems are well adapted to Mediterranean climate variability (in particular precipitation and drought) economically, ecologically and socially. These systems have a suit of stand structures and provide a wide range of products and services. The goal of this review is to give the state of the art on the distribution and traits of the evergreen oaks, analyse the systems and their management, diversity, and biomass and carbon storage. Though the systems have high resilience, the changes in management, governance and climate bring about challenges to their maintenance and sustainability.