Change and dynamics in Mediterranean evergreen oak woodlands landscapes of Southwestern Iberian Peninsula

Costa, Alexandre; Madeira, Manuel; Santos, José Lima; Oliveira, Anjolina Grisi de

doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2011.04.002

Cited by 57 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 25 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Overall, the abandonment of traditional land management activities, associated with land use transformations, have led to a progressive loss in cork oak forests (Costa et al 2011). In addition, during the last decades, tree mortality events have occurred with an increasing frequency in several cork oak forests in the Mediterranean basin, contributing to a further degradation of these woodlands (Brasier 1992;Costa et al 2010;Franceschini et al 1999).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Endemic and Emerging Pathogens Threatening Cork Oak Trees: Management Options for Conserving a Unique Forest Ecosystem

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cork oak (Quercus suber) forests are economically and culturally intertwined with the inhabitants of the Mediterranean basin and characterize its rural landscape. These forests cover over two million hectares in the western Mediterranean basin and sustain a rich biodiversity of endemisms as well as representing an important source of income derived from cork production. Currently cork oak forests are threatened by several factors including human-mediated disturbances such as poor or inappropriate management practices, adverse environmental conditions (irregular water regime with prolonged drought periods), and attacks of pathogens and pests. All these adverse factors can interact, causing a complex disease commonly known as “oak decline.” Despite the numerous investigations carried out so far, decline continues to be the main pathological problem of cork oak forests because of its complex etiology and the resulting difficulties in defining suitable control strategies. An overview of the literature indicates that several pathogenic fungi and oomycota can play a primary role in the etiology of this syndrome. Therefore, the aim of this review is to analyze the recent advances achieved regarding the bio-ecology of the endemic and emerging pathogens that threaten cork oak trees with particular emphasis on the species more directly involved in oak decline. Moreover, the effect of climate change on the host-pathogen interactions, a task fundamental for making useful decisions and managing cork oak forests properly, is considered.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Endemic and Emerging Pathogens Threatening Cork Oak Trees: Management Options for Conserving a Unique Forest Ecosystem

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Consequently, agricultural policies with a production target have had severe unintended effects on the system over the past decades (Schröder 2011;Costa et al 2011;Godinho et al 2014) (Table 1).…”

Section: Conceptual Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on previous studies (e.g. Schröder 2011; Costa et al 2011), we here assume that most of the changes in land management in this region result from social-economic changes derived from policy incentives and measures. All the values were computed considering the results for the entire study area (Table 4).…”

Section: Data Integration and Statistical Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In order to cope with the scarcity of the environmental conditions, these systems are characterised by complex interactions and a sensitive balance between tree cover and the different and complementary uses of the under cover (i.e., between forestry and agricultural uses). The different uses need to be in balance with each other, or the systems will collapse: if the agricultural use is too extensive, there will be shrub encroachment and forest densification; if the agricultural use is too intensive, the trees cover will be reduced and the forestry component will likely disappear (Bugalho et al 2011;Costa et al 2011). Within this system, regulating services (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For the Iberian silvo-pastoral systems, the most documented example are the livestock payment schemes under the Common Agricultural Policy, which so far in Iberia have been kept coupled to headage. At the same time as competing in a global market has become more difficult for these extensive, family farms, dependency on agricultural policy payments has increased (Costa et al 2011;Ribeiro et al 2014). These schemes are thus heading to a progressive but constant increase in the intensity of livestock pressure, due to an increased number of animals using the grazing areas (PintoCorreia et al 2013;Ribeiro et al 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Policy impacts on regulating ecosystem services: looking at the implications of 60 years of landscape change on soil erosion prevention in a Mediterranean silvo-pastoral system

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:Context Policy decisions form a major driver of land use change, with important implications for socially and environmentally susceptible regions. It is well known that there can be major unintended consequences, especially where policies are not tailored to regionally specific contexts. Objectives In this paper we assess the implications of 60 years of agricultural policies on soil erosion prevention (SEP) by vegetation, an essential regulating ecosystem service in Mediterranean Europe. Objectives In this paper we assess the implications of 60 years of agricultural policies on soil erosion prevention (SEP) by vegetation, an essential regulating ecosystem service in Mediterranean Europe. Methods To assess these implications we produced and analysed a time series of land cover/use and environmental conditions datasets (from 1951 to 2012) in relation to changing agricultural policies for a specific region in the southern Portugal. Set of indicators related to SEP allowed us to identify that land use intensification as increased soil erosion in the last 60 years. Results Particularly in the last 35 years, as a consequence of head age payments for cattle, the agricultural policy had a significant effect in the density and renewal of the tree cover, resulting in drastic effects for the provision of the SEP service. These are more significant after 1986, coinciding with the implementation of several Common Agricultural Policy instruments focused on increasing the modernization and productivity capacity of farm systems. Conclusions The results show some unintended effects of agricultural policy mechanisms on ecosystem service provision and highlight the need for context-based policies, tailored to the environmental constrains and potentials of each region.

show abstract

Land Change in Eastern Mediterranean Wood-Pasture Landscapes: The Case of Deciduous Oak Woodlands in Lesvos (Greece)

Schaich

Kizos

Schneider

et al. 2015

Environmental Management

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In Mediterranean Europe, wood-pasture landscapes with oak woodlands as emblematic ecosystems are undergoing rapid land-use change, which may threaten their legacy as hotspots of biodiversity, ecosystem services, and cultural heritage. The objective of this study was to quantify land cover changes and transitions as well as the dynamics of oak woodland patterns and densities over 50 years in two municipalities at the center and edges of Quercus macrolepis distribution in Northern Lesvos (Greece). We used aerial photographs from 1960 and WorldView-2 satellite images from 2010 to process land cover maps and metrics, and to calculate oak canopy cover with a point-grid sampling approach. Spatiotemporal dynamics of land cover change were generally high--especially between oak woodlands and grass- and shrub-lands, resulting in a more heterogeneous and fragmented landscape in 2010. Surprisingly, oak woodland area remained stable with marginal losses in one study site and gains in the other one. Oak canopy cover increased by 8 and 9%. Spatial hotspots of change were mountainous and peripheral phrygana areas with expanding oak stands, as well as river valleys and near urban areas with expanding olive groves and grass- and shrublands in former complex cultivation and oak stands. We conclude that the parallel processes of abandonment of crop cultivation and intensification of livestock grazing have been less detrimental to oak woodlands than supposed. To ensure long-term persistence of oak woodlands in the face of ongoing rural depopulation and land-use intensification, environmental and agricultural policies should better address their specificities as anthropogenic habitats.

show abstract

Change and dynamics in Mediterranean evergreen oak woodlands landscapes of Southwestern Iberian Peninsula

Cited by 57 publications

References 25 publications

Endemic and Emerging Pathogens Threatening Cork Oak Trees: Management Options for Conserving a Unique Forest Ecosystem

Endemic and Emerging Pathogens Threatening Cork Oak Trees: Management Options for Conserving a Unique Forest Ecosystem

Policy impacts on regulating ecosystem services: looking at the implications of 60 years of landscape change on soil erosion prevention in a Mediterranean silvo-pastoral system

Land Change in Eastern Mediterranean Wood-Pasture Landscapes: The Case of Deciduous Oak Woodlands in Lesvos (Greece)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About