Silvopastoral systems as a forest fire prevention technique.

Abstract

Silvopastoral systems are a form of multiple purpose land use, one function of which can be to reduce the risk of forest fires, which continue to be a threat to forests. In Spain, from 1991-2000 more than 175 000 ha were destroyed by fire annually, a third of this being woodland. Control of the undergrowth, which acts as a plant fuel for fire, should be made through prevention techniques that include cutting, controlled burning and controlled grazing. Grazing can also be a cause of fire, but when a suitable livestock breed is chosen and correctly managed, with animals which will reduce the understorey, it can prevent fires. These animals can also create income from meat production, as well as bringing other benefits, such as landscape enhancement, improved access and production of secondary products such as mushrooms. In long-term research in Galicia on this technique over four decades, encouraging trials have been conducted with goat, horse, sheep and pig grazing in Eucalyptus globulus, Pinus pinaster, Pinus sylvestris and Pinus radiata plantations. In this chapter, the key findings of this research will be presented alongside research on the same topic from elsewhere. Current research on grazing management of horses in a Pinus radiata plantation showed that, in the medium term, control of understorey is important and there was no difference between continuous and rotational grazing.

Effects of dose and period of sewage sludge application on soil, tree and pasture components in a Pinus radiata D. Don silvopastoral system

“…In Galicia (NW Spain), it has accounted for 400,000 hectares in a region of three million hectares (Xunta de Galicia 2001). Galicia is one of the most fire-prone areas of Europe, accounting for about 16% of the whole area of Europe affected by forest fires (Rigueiro-Rodríguez et al 2005). Traditional afforestation practices in this region transform agricultural land into forestland without understory management, which increases shrubland biomass under the trees and generates fire risk due to the excellent climatic conditions for understory growth during the spring, which may burn in the subsequent dry summer .…”

“…Recent studies have been conducted in Pinus radiata, the most popular species for afforestation in the Province of Lugo (Rigueiro-Rodríguez et al 2005), based on the dose of sewage sludge on lands with an initial water pH of 7 and 4.5. These studies revealed positive (Mosquera-Losada et al 2006) and negative effects of sewage sludge use on tree growth (López-Díaz et al 2007).…”

Goat grazing, its interactions with other herbivores and biodiversity conservation issues

“…As it will be explained further on in this manuscript, silvopastoral methods which include goats are also a powerful tool for habitat conservation through the prevention of fire risks by an efficient control of the accumulation of flammable woody vegetation (Etienne et al, 1996;Jáuregui et al, 2009;Rigueiro-Rodríguez et al, 2005).…”

“…The silvopastoral systems are another agro-forestry combination where woody fodder species can be key sources of nutrients for livestock (e.g. Papachristou and Papanastasis, 1994;Rigueiro-Rodríguez et al, 2005). Goat grazing can benefit the production of trees (oil palms, rubber trees, coffee, etc.…”

Türkiye’de sürdürülebilir keçi yetiştiriciliği: Mevcut durum ve çözüm önerileri

“…On the other hand, villagers accept to comply with the rules placed by the forest administration and both parties obtain productivity in the settlement area and the risk for forest fires is reduced. When a suitable grazing by goats in forest area is chosen and correctly managed, with goats which will reduce the understory, it can prevent fires, and help to maintain the firebreak network (Rigueiro-Rodríguez et al, 2004;Xanthopoulos et al, 2006). The status to be reached in forest-goat dilemma is the condition where both foresters and pure hair goat breeders win.…”