The European Forest Institute’s Young Leadership Programme, Mediterranean 2023 (YLPMED 2023), organised in partnership with the Union for the Mediterranean, aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the complex interplay between land abandonment, Mediterranean forests, and cultural landscapes. The programme offers an overview of the key drivers and impacts of land abandonment on Mediterranean forest and cultural landscapes and explore the potential opportunities for sustainable entrepreneurship and biodiversity conservation.

The 2023 edition focuses on the challenges and opportunities related to forest and land abandonment in the Mediterranean region. This theme holds significant importance as it balances environmental conservation, economic development, and societal well-being.

In this sense, UNESCO Biosphere Reserves play a vital role in recreating the link between humans and their environment in the Mediterranean. Biosphere reserves serve as living laboratories, promoting sustainable development and conservation practices while involving local communities in decision-making processes.

By preserving the cultural heritage and traditional practices of the Mediterranean region, while embracing ecological restoration and community engagement, the link between humans and their environment can be revived. This holistic approach ensures the long-term sustainability and resilience of these unique landscapes, benefiting both people and.

During the Scientific Session 1, Dr. Mari-Carmen Romera has addressed land abandonment from the holistic perspective of biosphere reserves. She presented the UNESCO Biosphere Reserves as appropriate tools for the promotion of resilient landscapes, highlighting the case study of the Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve in the Anti-Atlas (Morocco) concerning depopulation trends and migration patrons in the argan forest, and invited the participants to discuss and share insights and experiences from Mediterranean territories.