Perspectivas de una bioeconomía forestal en el Mediterráneo

Mediterranean forests are caught in a surprising paradox. They are extremely valuable. They are a crucial ecological infrastructure that could help tackle the most demanding challenges of global change. However, it seems our society has lost the ability to value them, position them in the economic flow, and develop a suitable approach for their sustainable management. In some ways, due to their neglect and the high cost of putting out fires, Mediterranean forests have become a drain on public resources. The development of sustainable and complementary value chains, based on both goods and services, is the cornerstone of their protection and management, just as is established in the FAO's Strategic Framework on Mediterranean Forests. In this vein, numerous innovative initiatives are taking place all over the region. Expanding, replicating, and adapting this innovation, transforming it from niche to norm, is a significant challenge that requires action at all levels, in particular: a) a favourable political environment able to create synergies between climate, industrial, urban, and environmental policies; b) skills in research, innovation and business creation; c) access to financing, including venture capital; d) a strong sustainability framework; and e) social support, including through new patterns of consumption. As is debated in this chapter, the potential of forestry goods and services to contribute to the circular bioeconomy in southern Europe is high,but will not just happen per se