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Causes and consequences of forest expansion
The current composition, structure, dynamics and biological diversity of the Mediterranean forests cannot be understood without considering the long history of uses and changes induced by human activities, which have contributed to shape the Mediterranean landscapes as we know them today.
In recent decades important processes of natural reforestation have occurred as a result of the abandonment of traditional activities and rural exodus. As a consequence, most Iberian forests have a series of legacies derived from their past record of land-uses. These land-use legacies have undoubtedly affected their current composition and structure, but also their current and future dynamics, and have the potential to shape the capacity of forests to respond to the challenges of climate change. Main researcher: Aitor Ameztegui
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