Introduction

Abstract

Our knowledge of the functional characteristics of the plants of mediterranean-climate regions has increased greatly in the past decade. In recent times the possibility of large-scale utilization of biomass for energy from these regions has been proposed. In order to assess the feasibility of these proposals we must consider the productive structure of these plant communities and how they vary through time and space. This symposium was an attempt to examine our recently acquired basic knowledge of the environmental limitations on the productivity of Mediterranean plant communities in relation to the consequences of the possible utilization of these communities for energy and chemicals.