The “Ruined Landscapes” of Mediterranean Islands: An Ecological Framework for Their Restoration in the Context of SDG 15 “Life on Land”

The “ruined landscapes” of the Mediterranean littoral are a consequence of millennia of human impact and include abandoned agricultural lands, deforested areas, and degraded coastal areas. One of the drivers is the historical pattern of land use, which has resulted in the clearing of vegetation, soil erosion, and overgrazing. These have caused significant damage to natural ecosystems and landscapes leading to soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, and the destruction of habitats. The UN Sustainable Development Goal 15 “Life on Land” recommends a substantial increase in afforestation (SDG 15.2). Whilst this goal is certainly necessary in places, it should be implemented with caution. The general perception that certain ecosystems, such as forests, are inherently more valuable than grasslands and shrublands contributes to afforestation drives prioritising quick and visible results. This, however, increases the possibility of misguided afforestation, particularly in areas that never supported forests under the present climatic conditions. We argue that in areas that have not supported forest ecosystems, targeted reinforcement of existing populations and recreation of historical ones is preferable to wholesale ecosystem modification disguised as afforestation. We present a possible strategy for targeted reinforcement in areas that never supported forests and that would still achieve the goals of SDGs 15.5 and 15.8.