The document “Livestock and scrub management for dehesa regeneration” brings together technical criteria, species, grazing systems and practical tools to support more balanced, biodiverse and resilient dehesas.
The regeneration of the dehesa does not depend solely on planting new trees. Ensuring the long-term continuity of this valuable ecosystem requires action across the entire system, including trees, grasslands, livestock, soil and areas of scrub vegetation.
Based on this integrated approach, the European LIFE ScrubsNet project presents the document “Livestock and scrub management for dehesa regeneration”, a new resource designed to support decision-making on livestock farms and in silvopastoral areas.
The publication explores two elements that are essential for regeneration: livestock management adapted to the characteristics of each farm and the recovery of scrub vegetation as a functional component of the dehesa. This approach is closely linked to LIFE ScrubsNet’s objective of improving dehesas and montados through the sustainable management of their associated scrub areas.
Livestock as a tool for regeneration
Livestock are part of the dehesa’s natural dynamics and can play a positive role in its conservation. However, for grazing to contribute to regeneration, it is necessary to carefully plan where, when and for how long animals graze.
Excessive or continuous grazing pressure can hinder the development of young trees and shrubs. By contrast, well-organised grazing adapted to the objectives of each area can make livestock production compatible with the protection of vegetation.
The document examines different grazing systems and provides criteria for adapting livestock management to the needs of scrub vegetation and young trees. It also introduces tools that can help temporarily protect regenerating areas and improve the distribution of grazing pressure and available resources across the farm.
LIFE ScrubsNet’s previous protocol already identifies rational grazing, mobile fencing and the combination of different livestock species as valuable management tools.
Restoring the value of scrub vegetation
For decades, scrub vegetation has often been regarded as an unproductive element that should be removed to increase grazing areas. LIFE ScrubsNet proposes replacing this view with a management-based approach: the aim is not to allow scrub to expand without control, but to conserve and manage it in areas where it can provide ecological and productive benefits.
Patches of scrub help protect the soil from erosion, improve water infiltration, provide shelter and food for many species, and increase the structural diversity of the landscape.
In addition, certain shrubs can protect young trees from intense sunlight, extreme weather conditions and livestock browsing. In this way, they can act as nurse plants and facilitate the natural regeneration of tree cover.
The new document includes information on species that can perform these functions and provides guidance on how to integrate them into farm planning. Scrub vegetation is therefore no longer seen as an obstacle, but as an essential component in restoring the balance of the ecosystem.
A practical resource for managing each farm
There is no single solution that can be applied to every dehesa. Grazing intensity, the presence of natural regeneration, soil characteristics, water availability and the condition of the scrub vegetation can vary considerably from one farm to another.
For this reason, “Livestock and scrub management for dehesa regeneration” provides criteria for assessing each situation and selecting the most appropriate actions. The publication combines technical knowledge with practical recommendations on species, grazing systems, vegetation protection and the monitoring of management measures.
The resource is particularly aimed at livestock farmers, landowners and farm managers, technical professionals, agri-environmental advisers, researchers and public authorities involved in dehesa management and conservation.
Managing in order to regenerate
The publication’s central message is clear: regenerating the dehesa requires managing relationships, not simply planting trees.
It is necessary to balance livestock presence, provide sufficient time and space for vegetation to recover, and make use of the protective functions of scrub vegetation.
With this new resource, LIFE ScrubsNet continues to transfer the knowledge generated during the project to the people who manage these landscapes every day, helping to build more functional, productive and climate-resilient dehesas.
The LIFE ScrubsNet project is co-funded by the European Union through the LIFE programme, LIFE20 NAT/ES/000978.
