Cork Oak Landscapes, Promised or Compromised Lands? A Case Study of a Traditional Cultural Landscape in Southern Spain

Cork oak landscapes are considered a model for the integration of sustainable land-use and biodiversity conservation. These traditional cultural landscapes, shaped through centuries, are in sharp decline in the Iberian Peninsula due to the polarization of their usage: from agricultural intensification to land abandonment. This study presents an in-depth analysis of the main drivers affecting cork oak landscapes’ management and structure in Berrocal, Huelva Province, Spain since 1940. Results show that the main causes for the decline of these landscapes has been the abandonment of the traditional multi-functionality of the dehesa, largely driven by demographic changes, and the increasing occurrence of major disturbances, such as wildfires, drought and diseases. This case illustrates how the abandonment of obsolete land-uses transforms traditional landscapes, sparking questions about what the goals of traditional landscape conservation should be and about possible alternative management options, their associated conservation benefits and risks.