Open AccessSilvopasture policy promotion in European Mediterranean areas
Author(s) -
Francisco Javier Rodríguez-Rigueiro,
José Javier Santiago-Freijanes,
María Rosa Mosquera-Losada,
Marina Castro,
Pablo Silva-Losada,
Andrea Pisanelli,
Anastasia Pantera,
A. Rigueiro-Rodríguez,
N. Ferreiro-Domínguez
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0245846
Subject(s) - agroforestry , livestock , sustainability , agriculture , land use , geography , environmental planning , environmental resource management , business , forestry , environmental science , ecology , archaeology , biology
Silvopasture is the deliberate integration of a woody component with grazed pastures as understorey. It is one of the most extended agroforestry practices all over the world. Silvopasture use is key to increase the sustainability of livestock farming systems as silvopasture reduces the use of concentrates since the woody component provides feed for animals. However, it is not an extensively used practice in Europe. This paper aims at evaluating, from Eurostat, LUCAS database and the 118 rural development programs, the current situation of permanent grasslands in the Mediterranean area of Europe as well as the rural development programmes fostering silvopasture to better understand how sustainable land use systems are promoted and provide insights to foster silvopasture across Europe. The results of this study show that most of the policy measures related to silvopasture are adapted to the local necessity. The already existing agroforestry managed land (dehesas/montado) are related to measures supporting regeneration and maintenance while in those areas where agroforestry does not exist the measures are related to forest fire prevention.