Grazing ability of European black pine understorey vegetation by goats

Torrano, L.; Valderrábano, J.

doi:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2004.11.001

Cited by 24 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…In the same study area, it was shown that selective clearing produced a more fragmented and diverse landscape (the Shannon diversity index increased from 0·96 to 1·15 after clearing), as well as a decrease in fires and area burnt (Lasanta et al ., ). The beneficial effect of grazing on the control of fires is a widely noted in the literature (Tsiouvaras et al ., ; Magadlela et al ., ; Kramer et al ., ; Torrano & Valderrábano, ; Ruiz‐Mirazo et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Use of Goats Grazing to Restore Pastures Invaded by Shrubs and Avoid Desertification: A Preliminary Case Study in the Spanish Cantabrian Mountains

2013

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Spanish mountains have been affected by the expansion of shrubs and forests since the mid‐20th century. This secondary succession in vegetation has some positive effects, but also drawbacks, such as an increase in fire risk, loss of diversity in land use, a reduction in landscape and cultural value, less water available in river channels and reservoirs, constraints on livestock farming, a reduced number of local species and loss of biodiversity. This paper analyses the potential for grazing domestic goats to help control the spread of several species of shrubs such as the common broom (Cytisus scoparius), red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) and roses (Rosa sp.) that are commonly found in degraded pastures in the Cantabrian Mountains of northern Spain. Using experimental plots, the effects of two levels of stocking density (4·5 and 9 goats ha−1 y−1) are compared with other land management systems used in the region: burning, mechanical clearing and trimming. The combined use of goats with support from burning, clearing and trimming controls the spread of shrubs. The most efficient treatment was found with nine goats ha−1 y−1. Goat grazing also changes the distribution of shrubs, transforming a dense and continuous coverage into separate clumps and thereby enabling livestock to graze more easily. Maintaining a mixed structure of shrubs and pastures is the best treatment due to the low population density of the Cantabrian Mountains, as this enhances the biodiversity, controls fire risk and enriches the landscape; it also allows extensive livestock grazing as a main economic resource. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Use of Goats Grazing to Restore Pastures Invaded by Shrubs and Avoid Desertification: A Preliminary Case Study in the Spanish Cantabrian Mountains

2013

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“…The capacity of livestock to effectively control shrub growth is supported by scientific evidence (e.g. Magadlela et al ; Torrano & Valderrábano, ; Jáuregui et al ; Celaya et al ), and such targeted grazing could therefore be expected to successfully reduce the combustible material loads of the areas concerned.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A feasible and cost‐effective alternative with which to improve fire prevention strategy is, therefore, the incorporation of grazing livestock into fire prevention programmes (Franca ; Rigueiro‐Rodríguez et al ; Launchbaugh et al ; Ruiz‐Mirazo et al ). The potential offered by goats, with their ability to survive in disadvantaged areas, is broadly recognized at national and international level (Gall ; Devendra & McLeroy ; Rigueiro‐Rodríguez et al ; Torrano & Valderrábano ; Mosquera‐Losada et al ), but their use within forest areas has, until relatively recently, been a subject of controversy (Martín & Huss, ). The effect of livestock grazing on environmental conservation has historically been perceived as poor.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do goats preserve the forest? Evaluating the effects of grazing goats on combustible Mediterranean scrub

Mancilla-Leytón

Pino‐Mejías

Vicente

2012

Applied Vegetation Science

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Question: Can grazing by goats eliminate potentially combustible plant biomass and thereby change the flammability of mediterranean vegetation? Location: Doñ ana Natural Park, SW Spain.Methods: The effect of goat grazing was evaluated, over a period of 42 mo, in 100 ha of pine forest understorey with an average density of 217 trees·ha À1 . Grazing by large herbivores was halted temporarily in the study area, with wild deer excluded from 1970, and domestic goats excluded from 2002. However, following the creation of grazing exclusion plots and sampling of the vegetation within as a control, adult female Payoya goats were introduced to the area in spring 2007. Vegetation was sampled twice yearly using the point-intercept method, and data of frequency, cover and phytovolume obtained. The study was completed with an analysis of change in the flammability of the study area (determined using data on the phytovolume and flammability of species). Changes in species richness and species diversity were determined.Results: After 42 mo, the phytovolume of the ungrazed vegetation had increased significantly by 32%, while bare soil had decreased by 5%. This gave rise to a significant increase in flammability of 25%. Within the grazed area, species phytovolume decreased significantly by 34%, leading to a significant increase in bare soil of 51%, while the flammability of the area decreased by 22%. The number of species remained constant throughout the study at 20 species. Significant differences in species diversity were observed between grazed and ungrazed areas after 42 mo of grazing (species diversity index after 42 mo of exclusion = 1.59 ± 0.17, species diversity index after 42 mo of grazing = 0.95 ± 0.13).Conclusions: Monitoring of the scrub understorey has shown the positive impact of grazing goats: the resulting decrease in the quantity of total phytovolume (easily combustible vegetation) induces changes in species diversity without lowering species richness and reduces the risk of fire.

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“…Se utiliza la cabra porque, del ganado doméstico presente en las montañas españolas, es el animal mejor adaptado al consumo de vegetación arbustiva altamente lignificada y defendida por compuestos químicos potencialmente tóxicos y defensas físicas (Hofmann, 1989). Además, se conoce bien su capacidad como "herramienta desbrozadora" de matorrales (Trías, 1996;Hart, 2001;Torrano & Valderrábano, 2005;Glasser et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Restauración del paisaje de la montaña española con ganadería: Un ensayo en la Cordillera Cantábrica combinando pastoreo de caprino y poda de matorrales

Martínez¹,

Abad²,

Gómez-Villar³

et al. 2015

Pirineos

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Grazing ability of European black pine understorey vegetation by goats

Cited by 24 publications

References 16 publications

The Use of Goats Grazing to Restore Pastures Invaded by Shrubs and Avoid Desertification: A Preliminary Case Study in the Spanish Cantabrian Mountains

The Use of Goats Grazing to Restore Pastures Invaded by Shrubs and Avoid Desertification: A Preliminary Case Study in the Spanish Cantabrian Mountains

Do goats preserve the forest? Evaluating the effects of grazing goats on combustible Mediterranean scrub

Restauración del paisaje de la montaña española con ganadería: Un ensayo en la Cordillera Cantábrica combinando pastoreo de caprino y poda de matorrales

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