Dehesa

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A dehesa (Spanish pronunciation:

By extension, the term can also be used for this style of rangeland management on estates.^{[citation needed]}

Ecology

The dehesa is derived from the

In a typical dehesa, oaks are managed to persist for about 250 years. If cork oaks are present, the cork is harvested about every 9 to 12 years, depending on the productivity of the site. The understory is usually cleared every 7 to 10 years to prevent the takeover of the woodland by shrubs of the rock rose family (Cistaceae), often referred to as "jara", or by oak seedlings. Oaks are spaced to maximize overall productivity by balancing light for the grasses in the understory, water use in the soils, and acorn production for pigs and game.^[4]

There is debate about the origins and maintenance of the dehesa, and whether or not the oaks can reproduce adequately under the grazing densities now prevailing.^{[citation needed]}

The dehesa is in many ways similar to the California oak woodland, although the former is typically much more intensively managed.^[5]

Importance and economic context

The dehesa system has great economic and social importance on the Iberian Peninsula because of both the large amount of land involved and its importance in maintaining rural population levels. The major source of income for dehesa owners is usually cork, a sustainable product that supports this ancient production system and old growth oaks.^[6] High end black iberian pigs and sale of hunting rights also represent significant income sources. Periodic hunts in the dehesa are known as the monteria. Groups attend a hunt at a private estate and wait at hunting spots for game to be driven to them with dogs. They usually pay well for the privilege, hunting wild boar, red deer and other species.^{[citation needed]}

The area of dehesa usually coincides with areas that could be termed "marginal" because of both their limited agricultural potential (due to the poor quality of the soil) and a lack of local industry, which results in isolated agro-industries and very low capitalization.^{[citation needed]}

Extent

Dehesa covers nearly 20,000 square kilometers on the

Portugal^[7][8]

• Alentejo
• Algarve

Spain^[7][8]

• Córdoba
• Extremadura
• Salamanca
• Sierra Morena
  • Sierra de Aracena
  • Sierra Norte de Sevilla

See also

• Cabañeros National Park
• List of types of formally designated forests
• Oak savanna
• California oak woodland
• Satoyama
• Silvopasture

References

Notes