Climate Change Resilience in Mediterranean Mixed-Oak Forest Landscapes

In the Kroumirie region of north-western Tunisia, populations of cork oak (Quercus suber) are suffering from drought. This decline in cork oak forests requires a re-evaluation of sustainable forest management techniques. A plant association is defined as a group of plants with a specific floristic composition, uniform physiognomy and growth under uniform site conditions. In this context, the floristic composition would include Quercus suber and one or more companion plants intended to support its persistence. As part of this initiative, the present study, aims to test the impact of such plant associations on the growth and hydraulic conductance PLC of cork oak. This chapter details the role and functioning of symbiotic associations in Mediterranean ecosystems. The study was conducted in a mixed forest of cork oak and zeen oak in the Kroumirie region of north-western Tunisia (Jendouba Governorate).