Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry in the Mediterranean Partner Countries and Turkey: Factors, Indicators and Challenges

The aim of this study is to define the main factors of sustainable agriculture and forestry in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey. The study is based on the review of existing literature and country level analyses. In the study indicators which can be used to measure sustainability are defined and examined and data on these is collected. Major challenges of the sector in the study countries are tentatively examined. According to the study relatively much data is available, but not enough to guarantee balanced sustainability assessments. More data is needed especially on resource quality and land degradation, agricultural productivity and to some extent also on rural poverty. To biodiversity and cultural values should be given stronger emphasis than is currently done. For better understanding of the development, data gathering systems in the countries should be widened so that data is collected periodically and also from the regions and that in data collecting all aspects of sustainability are taken into account