Geoecology in Mediterranean mountain areas: a tribute to Prof. José María García-Ruiz

The origin of this special issue arose from a scientific meeting held in Logroño (Spain) in October 2014, under the theme Geoecology in extreme environments: mountains and semiarid areas (Arnáez et al., 2014). The main motivation of the event was to recognise, on the occasion of his retirement, the outstanding contribution of Prof. José María García-Ruiz to the progress of Geoecology in Mediterranean mountain areas. Prof. García-Ruiz (Zaragoza, 1949) was lecturer, between 1974 and 1987, at the University of Cáceres and La Rioja. As staff Scientist and later Professor at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), he was Head of the Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (IPE-CSIC) (1987–1990) and Head of the Department of Global Change at the same institute, President of the Spanish Society of Geomorphology (1994–1996), besides a productive and tireless researcher..