Problem
Threatened ecosystems of Mediterranean sclerophyll woodland
Other Names:
Endangered habitats of open sclerophyllous trees and shrubsMediterranean chapparal under threat
Nature:
Mediterranean shrublands and woodlands occur in only five parts of the world, yet host more than one-fifth of all known plant species on Earth. Increased fire frequency is threatening the historic shrub lands and converting them to annual grasslands. The threats to these habitats include those from grazing, agriculture, timber harvest and urbanisation.
Incidence:
In California, USA, land use patterns have changed. From the 1920's through to the early 1970's, fire was used to eliminate shrub land. This management practice was used because it was thought to increase water yields, resulting in increased grassland production. Urban residents' use of forested areas for recreational purposes and careless agricultural burning, also cause many fires.
Broader Problems:
Threatened evergreen woodland habitatsThreatened evergreen sclerophyllous forests, scrubs or woodlands biome Related Problems:
Threatened semi-arid temperate woodland habitatsThreatened Mediterranean sclerophyll scrub habitats Strategies:
Conserving Mediterranean shrubland and woodland ecoregionConserving California chapparal and woodlands ecoregion Subject(s):
Geography → Land type/useGeography → Wild
Plant Life → Trees
Societal Problems → Endangered species
Societal Problems → Vulnerability
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
E: Emanations of other problems Date of last update
04.10.2020 – 22:48 CEST