Departing from conventional narratives centered on environmental complexity, this book offers a fresh perspective on ecological dynamics in the Mediterranean basin, positing their correlation with social and economic regimes, demographic transformations, local governance structures, and deficiencies in spatial planning. The analysis delves into the neglected potential for mitigating environmental degradation, conducting a meticulous examination of ecological issues vis à vis economic disparities in Southern European regions. The outcome aims to furnish an integrated, and potentially holistic, understanding of spatial divisions between environmentally ‘poor’ and ‘rich’ territories.