Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
4. Results
4.1. Diachronic analysis of land uses in a protected natural area
We obtained two diachronic maps showing different scenarios relating to land uses in this
territory for 1975 and for 2009, differentiating 7 types (Table 1, Figure 3).
Land uses
Description
All formations of deciduous leafy tree species primarily
Quercus pyrenaica
All formations of sclerophyllous tree species primarily
Quercus ilex subsp . ballota
Pinus sylvestris forests
Forest
High altitude shrubland ( Cytisus oromediterraneus)
Scrubland with Cistus ladanifer , Lavandula stoechas subsp.
stoechas , Thymus spp. Retama sphaerocarpa
Scrub with scattered Quercus ilex subsp . ballota or Quercus
pyrenaica
Scrub
High-altitude pastures of Festuca curvifolia
Pastures for extensive livestock farming
Therophytic pastures in abandoned agricultural areas
(wasteland)
Pastures with scrub and scattered trees
Pastures
Dry farming crops
Irrigated crops
Croplands
Granite landscapes covered by scrubs and trees ( Quercus ilex
subsp . ballota , Pinus sylvestris , Juniperus oxycedrus subsp.
oxycedrus ).
Rocky areas with scrub
and trees
Reservoirs
Areas under urban development
Consolidated urban areas
Urban areas
Table 1. Classification and description of the seven land uses and vegetation types in the PNA.
In both years, the most abundant type of land use is pasture, which reflects the importance
of extensive livestock farming in this area. Nature conservation in Spain should involve
protection and conservation of these traditional agrosilvopastoral systems [58, 59]. An
essential ecological feature of this kind of system involves a high level of efficiency in
energy and nutrient use. As a result, the use of land resources is optimized and the rural
activities are adapted to natural production cycles [60, 61]. The next most abundant types of
land use by extension are forest, scrub and rocky areas with scrub and trees. These are all
characteristics of this PNA, although the latter comprises this territory's unique landscape.
We found no noteworthy changes in number of land uses or in the typology within the
protected area. We can only highlight the absence in 2009 of areas under urban development
Search WWH ::




Custom Search