Intereses e innovaciones para la Dehesa identificados por los agentes interesados

In the framework of the AGFORWARD project (www.agforward.eu), which aims to promote agroforestry practices in Europe as a rural development mechanism, the Working Group of the Dehesa, made up of researchers and interested actors, has worked through debate tables and surveys in the identification of the main problems and possible solutions to improve the productivity in the dehesa, its management and its conservation. The results show that dehesas can produce several high quality products and provide numerous environmental services. However, the low commercial profitability of most dehesa farms, together with the progressive degradation of soil, pasture and trees, endanger the dehesa as an agroforestry exploitation system. The main innovations proposed are techniques for the regeneration of trees, permanent pastures rich in legumes, forage crops adapted to the shade, support of new technologies for rational grazing and optimizing the use of internal forage resources, and exploring the possibility of creating a brand for the products of the pasture.