On 29 October 2025, the LIFE Scrubsnet project held a technical round table in Mérida (Extremadura) with a clear objective: to analyse how to improve the regulatory framework affecting the management of dehesas, one of the most emblematic and valuable ecosystems in south-western Iberia.
During the conference, various experts from the public, academic and environmental management sectors shared ideas on the conservation status of habitat 6310, the sustainability of pastures, and the role played by the CAP and the PEPAC in protecting these natural spaces.
The session was opened by Patricia Mora from Innogestiona Ambiental, the coordinating body for the LIFE Scrubsnet project, who presented the project’s progress and objectives. This was followed by presentations by representatives of the Regional Government of Extremadura and the University of Évora, including Atanasio Fernández, Carmen Mateos, Vicente Cruz Galeano, Augusto Barril and María Helena Guimarães, the latter sharing the experience of Payment for Results in the Portuguese Montado.
After the presentations, a participatory debate was opened to address the main challenges and opportunities for ensuring more balanced management of pasture systems, especially with regard to shrub vegetation and the policies that influence its conservation.
The meeting ended with the presentation of conclusions and proposals for improvement, which will serve to guide future actions of the project and contribute to more sustainable management adapted to the real needs of the territory.