It occupies the southwestern Iberian Peninsula, encompassing coastal lowlands and mountains in portions of Portugal and Spain.

[2] The ecoregion occupies the coastal lowlands and hills in Portugal and southwestern Spain, including the lower basins of the Tagus, Guadiana, and Guadalquivir rivers.

In northern coastal Portugal, the ecoregion is bounded on the north by the more humid and temperate Cantabrian mixed forests.

The people of southern Portugal and southwestern Spain have developed land-use systems centered on cork oak (Quercus suber).

The understory is kept clear of shrubs, and used for grazing animals or for growing crops, typically wheat, barley and oats.

In recent decades, interest in sustainable silviculture practices as a response to climate change and biodiversity loss has grown.

Herdade do Freixo do Meio farm in Foros de Vale Figueira village, near Montemor-o-Novo in Alentejo, is reviving a form of montado silviculture.

On the 600-hectare farm walnut, cork oak, olive, citrus, and other fruit and nut trees support grape vines, and provide food and shade to old varieties of pigs, cows, chickens, and turkeys.

[12] In April 2017, the Portuguese government announced its intention to prohibit the expansion of eucalyptus plantations, which was opposed by the pulp industry and landowners.