We propose some ideas for an adaptive silviculture in the Mediterranean biogeographic region that could assist in shaping forests which are less vulnerable to extreme climatic events, such as those drought and heat waves that are expected to be more intense and frequent in the future. We discuss about silvicultural approaches that would aim to: regulate competition and density-dependent effects; enhance functional diversity; increase the complexity of forest communities. These approaches are especially advisable in the Mediterranean region, which is a hotspot for climate change and where forests have been exploited for many centuries and are only recently taking advantage of a recovery phase.
