Land and resource use
This region, which was originally covered by cork oak, is now cultivated and records a strong increase of irrigation with important consequent changes in the soil use and the cropping techniques.
Rapid changes in land-use are occurring in these marginal areas that were used originally, before the 20th century, for grazing or forestry. Current trends include replacement of evergreen oak forest by fast growing trees such as Eucalyptus species, and an increase in agriculture and grazing activities. The use of the good soils of the flat plateau for commercial crops, forced local poor communities to cultivate steep slopes, decreasing the forest and shrubland areas. In addition, an increasing number of sheep and goats, added pressure on natural resources. Therefore, areas traditionally occupied by sustainable forest and shrub land are experiencing a change in intensification of land management practices, leading to the use of the poor lithosoils in an unsustainable manner.
Contributing to desertification are amongst others: (i) Ploughing of steep slopes; (ii) Overgrazing of the shrubland areas, as a result of the increase of animal numbers; (iii) Afforestation with exotic species.
The practices differ according to the type of land and resource. The cork oak forest constitutes both a source of fodder and fuelwood and an important resource for grazing. The way of livestock management (an average of 1 cattle, 19 sheep and 17 goats) is extensive. Sheep and goats stay about 10 months in the forest and move to the cultivated fields in summer.
For energy supply, wood is consumed daily, for heating in winter and for cooking bread all year. The frequency of cutting the wood depends on the distance between the forest and home. When the supply is daily, the average by family is about 13.4 kg.
