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Box 2.9 the dehesa: An agrosilvipastoral system in Spain

The dehesa in southwestern Spain is an old land-use system consisting of scattered oak trees (Quercus rotundifolia and Q. suber) on pasture and crop land. Farmers continuously prune the trees so that these develop a wide, open canopy. The trees provide sweet acorns for consumption by humans and pigs, timber, charcoal, tannin, cork, and other products, the trees fulfill important ecological functions (Joffre et al. 1988:72).

The system has been stable for many centuries (p. 75). Careful agropastoral management practices optimally sued pasture, acorns and stubble fields to feed livestock (traditionally mainly pigs and sheep, with some goats and cattle) and allowed rest periods for the grazing land. During the last 30 years, however, shrubland has replaced 20-25% of the dehesa, and plantation forests have increased. Joffre et al. (p. 76) relate these changes to declining agropastoral management, increased land clearing for crop cultivation with heavy machinery, and reforestation.

In the Sierra Norte, relief and poor soils helped preserve the dehesa. On the other hand, social conditions and land tenure by the "latifundist" class, who were sometimes absentee farmers, favored the neglect of dehesa management and the planting of monoculture forests with species such as Eucalyptus. In the early 1960s, more than 30% of the population emigrated, agricultural wages rose, pig diseases became more common, the demand for charcoal in the towns fell, and changes in cropping let to the collapse of the existing transhumance system (p. 82).

Because of the deteriorating socio-economic situation, the government tried to improve animal production by replacing some small ruminants with cattle and by crossing local cattle with improved breeds from outside. The new breeds needed more feed, raising the demand for grazing and fodder from crops. Little attention was paid to range management, the quality of grazing land decreased, the tree cover was neglected, and shrubs invading from the surrounding matorrales were not eradicated. Some farmers decided to turn their land into forests or wildlife and game reserves for hunting.

Jeoffre et al. suggest that dehesa be considered as potential land-use system in other fragile regions with Mediterranean climates. They recommend more farm-level tests and the implementation of new management techniques, including grazing systems with rest periods, fertilizer application, and the use of relevant livestock systems.