California is one of five places in the world that experience the pattern of warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters known as a Mediterranean climate.
Mediterranean-climate regions, which include Central Chile, Western Australia, the Cape Region of South Africa, and the Mediterranean Basin, have much in common. Their large human populations exert extreme development pressure on highly diverse ecosystems. Each experiences frequent drought and fire. And species native to one region frequently become invasive in another.
The NRS connects people working in Mediterranean climate ecosystems via two organizations:
Mediterranean-Type Ecosystem Thematic Group (MTEG)
MTEG is an international network of experts within the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) who share findings and conduct public programs on the sustainable management of Mediterranean-climate ecosystems.
International Cooperative for the Management of Mediterranean-Climate Ecosystems (INCOMME)
INCOMME encourages land managers to exchange knowledge and learn best practices for handling common challenges.