Dynamic Conservation Management of Nontillable East Mediterranean Upland Ecosystems1

Associate Professor of Ecology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel 32 000. Abstract: East Mediterranean upland ecosystems are severely threatened by exponential landscape degradation and by the loss of biological diversity through monospecies afforestation and brush encroachment. Integrated landscape ecological research, planning, management and education are therefore urgently required to reconcile the need for bio-ecological conservation and restoration and for socio-economic advancement. Highest attainable diversity can be ensured by the maintenance of the dynamic flow equilibrium through controlled grazing, cutting and burning. Flexible multipurpose management for optimization of environmental protection, nature conservation, landscape and recreation amenities plus plant and animal production, should be based on ecosystem management and the creation of multi-layered fodder, fuel and/or recreation forests.