Land-use changes and sustainable development in mountain areas: a case study in the Spanish Pyrenees

  1. García-Ruiz, J.M. 1
  2. Lasanta, T. 1
  3. Ruiz-Flano, P. 2
  4. Ortigosa, L. 3
  5. White, S. 1
  6. González, C. 1
  7. Martí, C. 1
  1. 1 Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología
    info

    Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología

    Zaragoza, España

    ROR https://ror.org/039ssy097

  2. 2 Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
    info

    Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

    Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España

    ROR https://ror.org/01teme464

  3. 3 Universidad de La Rioja
    info

    Universidad de La Rioja

    Logroño, España

    ROR https://ror.org/0553yr311

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Revista:
Landscape Ecology

ISSN: 0921-2973

Año de publicación: 1996

Volumen: 11

Número: 5

Páginas: 267-277

Tipo: Artículo

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SCOPUS: 2-s2.0-0030419624 GOOGLE SCHOLAR

Otras publicaciones en: Landscape Ecology

Resumen

Land-use changes affecting Mediterranean mountains represent the intensification of use in valley bottoms, accompanied by land-use conflicts, and a generalized abandonment of the hillslopes, which in the past were perfectly integrated in the system of land management. Farmland abandonment, reforestation, diminution of the livestock pressure and substitution of cereal crops by meadows are the most outstanding features of the recent land-use changes. The question is whether the new spatial organisation is in accordance with a long-term policy of sustainable development in mountain areas. The results obtained confirm that farmland abandonment on steep slopes - and the resulting colonization of old fields by a dense shrub cover - and afforestation contribute to control both soil erosion and surface runoff. As a result some of the most important rivers and alluvial fans have recently stabilized their sedimentary structures.