The European project LIFE ScrubsNet continues to develop pilot actions for the restoration and sustainable management of montados. One of the most recent is being carried out on an area of 13 hectares dominated by low-diversity scrub, where the aim is to restore soil fertility and improve the availability of pasture for livestock.
The intervention is based on two key actions:
- Selective clearing, with the aim of reducing scrub density and promoting the establishment of herbaceous plants and pastures of greater interest to livestock.
- Soil correction with dolomitic limestone, an amendment that helps to balance the pH and improve soil conditions, thus promoting plant productivity.
To assess the effectiveness of these measures, a comprehensive monitoring programme is being carried out, which includes:
- Physical-chemical analysis of the soil, which allows the evolution of nutrients and pH to be measured.
- Control of herbaceous cover, observing changes in the composition and diversity of species.
- Monitoring of livestock movement, in order to analyse how grazing responds to improvements in the terrain.
Preliminary results will be available in the coming months, once the monitoring has been completed. These data will make it possible to assess whether the practices applied are really contributing to the restoration of the montado, generating benefits in terms of both livestock productivity and ecological sustainability.
With initiatives such as this, LIFE ScrubsNet is making progress in the search for practical solutions to reconcile agricultural and livestock management with the conservation of Mediterranean ecosystems.
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