PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
'Dehesas' are part of Spains natural heritage. They are areas of mediterranean oaks (Quercus ilex, Q. suber) woodland transformed by humans to provide pasture for livestock. This type of transformation creates an agro-silvicultural ecosystem of high ecological value, especially in relation to pasture biodiversity (habitat code 6310 Habitats Directive). However, increasing numbers of dehesas have been in decline over recent decades and so has their conservation status, with a notable decrease in the biodiversity value of these areas. Sometimes this decline has been because of abandonment and sometimes because of agricultural intensification or unsuitable agricultural practices. The Region of Andalusia has tried to address the problem by introducing a new law on dehesas (7/2010) to favour conservation of these agro-silvicultural habitats on the basis of their relevant contribution to biodiversity, their support to many endangered species that depend on them, and the ecosystems services provided by this singular habitat.
OBJECTIVES
The bioDEHESA project aimed to promote sustainable, integrated management of dehesas by demonstrating and disseminating action plans, which deal with the main challenges involved in their conservation. The project aimed to create a network of 40 pilot dehesas to trial activities and management practices that enhance dehesa conservation and biodiversity. The plan was for this network to be used to develop a monitoring system and identify indicators, compile information on dehesa-related biodiversity, and make environmental evaluations. The project aimed to focus on the exchange of scientific and technical knowledge, in order to finalise a model Integrated Management Plan as a basic tool to provide solutions to the most serious management problems for dehesas.
RESULTS
The bioDEHESA project demonstrated sustainable and integrated management of dehesa, which can maintain and enhance the biodiversity of this habitat and provide economic benefits. The beneficiaries produced management plans and showed how conservation actions can be sustained over the long term.
The projects model Integrated Management Plan (IMP) is of great importance for the Dehesas Law (7/2010), under which a master plan is being developed to favour conservation of these agro-silvicultural habitats. It provides an input that acts as a reference for transferring the knowledge acquired during the project to other locations. The project team developed new software for the management plan, adapting GIS for dehesas mapping and monitoring.
Individual IMPs included concrete conservation actions to be implemented in each pilot dehesa. The network of pilot dehesas was composed of 35 private and 7 public plots. Project beneficiaries signed 35 private agreements with land owners. In each plot, different conservation activities were implemented, as appropriate, to improve the quality of the dehesa and related habitats. Some of these plots are located in Natura 2000 sites, where the biodiversity was also reinforced. In each pilot area, the beneficiaries increased the knowledge regarding biodiversity, established more biodiversity indicators, and consolidated biodiversity as one of the main aspects to be considered in the decision-making process. Concrete conservation actions were implemented to enhance biodiversity. Key actions in woodland were the sowing of acorns and planting of holm oaks, and tree management by pruning. Other conservation actions included appropriate livestock management, various habitat diversification measures, and the revegetation of riverbanks. The project team provided explanations of their work on noticeboards and via other media to raise public awareness. In the 7 public dehesas plots, they focused on actions that were more likely to be negatively perceived by land owners, such as improving areas for amphibians (due to loss of productive land) or creating refuges for wild rabbits.
In addition to making an important contribution to boosting the developing and helping implement the Dehesas Law, the public administration of Andalusia is also considering the projects results in the Andalusian EU Rural Development programme 'Desarrollo Rural 2014-2020', which includes a specific sub-programme about dehesa.
The project also contributed to the implementation of the EU Omnibus regulation, which modifies the definition of permanent pastures; rural development under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD); Article 23 of FEADER (Fonds Europen Agricole pour le Dveloppement Rural) on funding for the regeneration of agro-forestry systems; the definition of wood pasture and woodland in the CAP; and the European Strategy on Biodiversity 2020.
Project beneficiaries identified the biodiversity linked to dehesas, conducted field demonstrations of actions and management practices that benefit the conservation of dehesas and their biodiversity; and contributed to the implementation of horizontal services related to dehesas conservation, such as decline assessment service, dehesas GIS, protocols and indicators. They disseminated information about dehesa and its characteristics as an agro-forestry system, to establish appropriate European, national and regional orientations. The project team also organised numerous networking activities, and many training and educational workshops. One of the main socio-economic effects of the project is that, after the project's implementation, the management of the dehesa will be improved and therefore its economic performance. The know-how gained by the project has been transmitted to the interested sectors through training sessions and other activities (and uploaded to the project website).
