INTEGRATED CLIMATE ADAPTATION PATHWAYS FOR MEDITERRANEAN AGROECOSYSTEMS: ECOLOGICAL, HYDROLOGICAL, AND SOCIOECONOMIC INTERACTIONS

Abstract Mediterranean agroecosystems are among the most climate-sensitive agricultural regions globally. Rising temperatures, altered precipitation regimes, increasing frequency of drought events, and hydrological variability pose significant risks to crop productivity and rural livelihoods. At the same time, socioeconomic pressures including land abandonment, urban encroachment, and policy fragmentation complicate adaptive responses. This study proposes an integrated framework for climate adaptation in Mediterranean agroecosystems, with particular focus on southern France. Combining ecological resilience theory, hydrological modeling perspectives, and socioeconomic analysis, the research explores how agroecosystem stability depends on coordinated management of soil, water, biodiversity, and rural governance structures. The objective is to identify adaptive pathways that enhance ecological integrity while maintaining agricultural productivity and socio-economic viability.