Restoration of abandoned olive plantations for flora and fauna

This study adopts a two-fold methodological approach to assessing the suitability of olive plantations in mountainous areas for wildlife habitat restoration. Embedding expert judgements through an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) about the effect of specific elements of the landscape on ecological diversity permits the most suitable agricultural areas to be selected by means of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). The case study is the olive plantations of Andalusia (Southern Spain). The results suggest that the edge of major agricultural areas (mostly olive groves), and areas adjacent to Natural Park with oaks would be most suitable for wildlife habitat restoration. El trabajo presenta una metodología de selección de zonas agrícolas para la recuperación de hábitats para la flora y fauna silvestres. A través del Proceso Analítico Jerárquico (AHP) y de los Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG) se determina que las zonas más adecuadas son aquéllas cercanas a olivares de baja producción y al Parque Natural de la Sierra de Cardeña y Montoro (Córdoba).