Detecting temporal changes in the extent of High Nature Value farmlands: The case-study of the Entre-Douro-e-Minho Region, Portugal

A Historical Perspective of Landscape and Human Population Dynamics in Guimarães (Northern Portugal): Possible Implications of Rural Fire Risk in a Changing Environment

“…Land use underwent profound changes over time regarding how the land is valued and exploited [64][65][66]. Understandably, soils in lower and alluvial areas are more fertile and abundant in organic matter where agriculture is facilitated [67].…”

City-Region Food Systems and Biodiversity Conservation: The Case Study of the Entre-Douro-e-Minho Agrarian Region

“…Regardless, EDM includes the most relevant dairy production in the country, represented by the concentration of specialized farms in the production of milk and forage cereals [56]. These areas under intensive agricultural management exist in the most fertile plains, in contrast to small-scale and heavily parceled low-intensity farms in the higher lands, which are less fertile [45] and where we can encounter the HNVf. The HNVf1 are dominant in the EDM, and they include the high-altitude irrigated pastures (also known as "lameiros"), small terraces used for the production of a wide variety of crops (e.g., potatoes, cereals), and the common lands, or "baldios" (a mixture of herbaceous species and shrubs often used for extensive grazing).…”

“…The HNVf1 are dominant in the EDM, and they include the high-altitude irrigated pastures (also known as "lameiros"), small terraces used for the production of a wide variety of crops (e.g., potatoes, cereals), and the common lands, or "baldios" (a mixture of herbaceous species and shrubs often used for extensive grazing). Additionally, the presence of HNVf2 is reflected through com-plexes of agricultural land mosaics of arable and horticultural crops mixed with vineyards, orchards and small woods, and even permanent pastures for grazing cattle [45,49]. The EDM has another characteristic production system, namely "masseiras", located on the coast, especially between Póvoa de Varzim and Esposende.…”

“…Further, recent research demonstrated that agricultural landscapes under low-intensity agricultural management (i.e., low levels of fertilizers, agrochemicals, and mechanization, with reduced animal density and frequent rotating land uses) can foster a high level of biodiversity and provide a diverse set of ecosystem services [35,[44][45][46]. In the EU, these "traditional" agricultural landscapes are classified as High Nature Value Farmland (HNVf) [47,48].…”

“…In the EU, these "traditional" agricultural landscapes are classified as High Nature Value Farmland (HNVf) [47,48]. These areas are well adapted to local climatic, geographic, and environmental conditions, expressing the relationship(s) between farming systems and practices, as well as habitats and species of high conservation value [45,49,50]. Three different types of HNVf have been broadly identified [48].…”