The world largest cork oak Maamora forest: challenges and the way ahead

The Maamora forest, once the world's largest cork oak forest spanning 300,000 hectares, has declined to less than 50,000 hectares with significant ecological disruption. This regression is primarily driven by heavy and unregulated human pressure, despite numerous conservation efforts. The study suggests that natural restoration, potentially aided by fencing, could be the most effective approach to reversing this decline. As a synthetic review, it compiles existing research on the forest's ecological, socio-economic, and cultural aspects while highlighting the urgent need for sustainable management strategies to safeguard this critical green heritage.

(Ed.). (2015). The world largest cork oak Maamora forest: challenges and the way ahead. Flora Mediterranea, 25(Special Issue). https://doi.org/10.7320/flmedit25si.277