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Peatlands of the Mediterranean Region

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The Wetland Book

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Abstract

The generally arid climate of the Mediterranean region means that peatlands are typically small and scattered but these sites should not be overlooked. Peatlands are present in the vast majority of Mediterranean countries and make a disproportionately large contribution to regional biodiversity with endemic species recorded for several sites. These peatlands are often poorly documented and increasingly threatened by human activity, in particular the increasing need for agricultural land and water resources. The vast majority of sites are disturbed or destroyed but relatively natural sites do remain, particularly in mountainous regions. A greater focus on the important biodiversity and ecosystem service benefits of Mediterranean peatlands is needed, particularly in countries outside Europe.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environment, University of York, YO105DD, York, UK

    Richard Payne

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  1. Richard Payne
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Correspondence to Richard Payne .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Ecology and Biodiversity, Charles Sturt University Inst. for Land, Water and Society, Albury, New South Wales, Australia

    C. Max Finlayson

  2. Dept. of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources, Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada

    G. Randy Milton

  3. Nature Management Services, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

    R. Crawford Prentice

  4. Charles Sturt University, Albury, New South Wales, Australia

    Nick C. Davidson

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Payne, R. (2016). Peatlands of the Mediterranean Region. In: Finlayson, C., Milton, G., Prentice, R., Davidson, N. (eds) The Wetland Book. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6173-5_111-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6173-5_111-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-6173-5

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