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Silvopastoral Systems in the Northeastern Iberian Peninsula: A Multifunctional Perspective

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Agroforestry in Europe

Part of the book series: Advances in Agroforestry ((ADAG,volume 6))

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse the present situation of silvopastoral systems in the Northeastern Iberian Peninsula and to foresee the role that silvopastoralism might play in the future. In the region, silvopasture form part of an extensive livestock farming system which integrates agriculture, livestock production and forestry, mostly in family-based farms. Forest grazing is the most important silvopastoral system in the study area where the mountainous topography and the dominant Mediterranean climate influence the grazing strategies. Despite the low contribution of silvopastoralism to the total Gross Domestic Product of the Catalan region, extensive livestock systems play an important social and economic role in the structure of rural areas. Moreover, this role is expected to increase in the future due to the implementation of new agrienvironment measures in the framework of the latest European financial program (2007–2013). The present paper discusses the role of silvopastoralism as an economically viable tool to prevent wildfires and conserve biodiversity in these systems.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fundación Centro de Estudios Ambientales del Mediterráneo (CEAM), Paterna, Valencia, Spain

    P. Casals

  2. Centre Tecnológic Forestal de Catalunya (CTFC), Solsona, Spain

    P. Casals, G. Bota, F. de Bello, M. T. Sebastià & M. Taull

  3. Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge, Centre de la Propietat Forestal (CPF), Generalitat de Catalunya, Torreferrussa, Spain

    T. Baiges

  4. Escola Tècnica i Superior d'Enginyeria Agrícola, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain

    C. Chocarro, R. Fanlo, M. T. Sebastià & M. Taull

Authors
  1. P. Casals
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  2. T. Baiges
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  3. G. Bota
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  4. C. Chocarro
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  5. F. de Bello
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  6. R. Fanlo
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  7. M. T. Sebastià
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  8. M. Taull
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. Casals .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Crop Production Department, High Politechnic School, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, 27002, Spain

    Antonio Rigueiro-Rodróguez  & Maróa Rosa Mosquera-Losada  & 

  2. Department of Applied Plant Science, Queens University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK

    Jim McAdam

  3. Applied Plant Science and Biometrics Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Newforge Lane, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT9 5PX, UK

    Jim McAdam

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Casals, P. et al. (2009). Silvopastoral Systems in the Northeastern Iberian Peninsula: A Multifunctional Perspective. In: Rigueiro-Rodróguez, A., McAdam, J., Mosquera-Losada, M.R. (eds) Agroforestry in Europe. Advances in Agroforestry, vol 6. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8272-6_8

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