Although Mediterranean littoral areas naturally experience seasonal wildfires, the steady progression of global climate change is leading to ever hotter average temperatures and drier conditions in the region, which have resulted in increasingly intense and unprecedentedly devastating blazes. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s findings, wildfire risk across the Mediterranean region will rise in parallel with the overall degradation of the health of the local ecosystem.

MEI is pleased to convene a panel of experts to share their perspectives on how Mediterranean countries’ forest management strategies will need to evolve and incorporate climate change into their decision making, from wildlife-urban interfaces to forest and water management. In addition, the participating speakers will discuss other ways for Mediterranean states to cooperate in their efforts to protect local communities and natural environments from the worsening threat of climate change-fueled wildfires.