"In order to avoid an irreversible situation for Mediterranean forests in MPCs, a coordinated approach throughout the Mediterranean basin to improve forest management and policy-making based on reliable information and tools is required . AGORA will update and enlarged the scientific knowledge on the sustainable management of forests in selected MPCs through scientific cooperation and networking and targeted capacity building that uses efficiently the existing multidisciplinary knowledge and resources available in different European forest research institutions of the Mediterranean region. Coordinated forest research partnerships between “centres of excellence” (located in EU and an associated country) and MPCs entities with the highest research potential will be developed. This will be realised by improving scientific relationships, networking and exchanging of know-how and experience as well as by upgrading the research capacities of the MPCs forest research entities. In addition, the forest scientific strategies of the MPCs research entities' will be adjusted based on upgraded capacities."