Abstract
This paper focus on the difficulty of applying an apparently clear and transparent concept that refers to an emblematic Mediterranean historical and cultural landscape: the dehesa agroecosystem. This agroecosystem, named montado in Portugal, is located in the southwestern area of the Iberian Peninsula. Dehesa is a very evocative word; it is a concept that, besides, shows a great capacity to contain social values and sensibilities pertaining to the modern world (respect for the environment, quality in the production processes, biodiversity, cultural heritage). Nevertheless, the concept of dehesa is situated in undefined and confusing spaces, due to the fact that its multifunctional nature involving forestry, agriculture and livestock farming prevents it from being understood by the strict dichotomous categories relating to regulatory, ecological or production aspects. In this sense, there is such disconcertion that any proposal aimed at solving the challenges of the dehesa should reach a previous consensus regarding a more adjusted definition thereof, continuing the evolution of this historical concept.
Highlights
The dehesa is a characteristic landscape of the south-western area of the Iberian Peninsula (Parsons, 1962)
The dehesa is a victim —to a certain degree— of its alleged virtues, thwarted by the fact that its multifunctional nature involving forestry, agriculture and livestock farming prevents it from being well accepted by the strict dichotomous categories relating to regulatory, ecological or production aspects; there is such disconcertion that the proposals aimed at solving the crisis the dehesa is undergoing involve previous consensus regarding a definition thereof
Ecologists and foresters understand the term dehesa, and its related system montado in Portugal, as describing a park-like landscape, with a sparse tree layer composed of oak trees, located in the south-western Iberian Peninsula, that provides browsing land for cattle, grazing for sheep and goats, acorns for pigs, as well as some forest income from natural cork, mushrooms, useful plants, wood for fuel and space for bee-keeping (Díaz et al, 1997)
Summary
The dehesa (named montado in Portugal) is a characteristic landscape of the south-western area of the Iberian Peninsula (Parsons, 1962). Ecologists and foresters understand the term dehesa, and its related system montado in Portugal, as describing a park-like landscape, with a sparse tree layer composed of oak trees (usually holm oak and cork oak), located in the south-western Iberian Peninsula, that provides browsing land for cattle, grazing for sheep and goats, acorns for pigs, as well as some forest income from natural cork, mushrooms, useful plants, wood for fuel and space for bee-keeping (Díaz et al, 1997).
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