Conversion of Forest to Agro-Silvo-Pastoral System – Montado – in Mediterranean Environments

The Mediterranean environment regions are characterized by climate and soil specificities that justify low productive capacity for primary production when compared to other environments on earth. The Mediterranean forests are essentially formed by trees and shrubs. The shrubs are the perfect fuel to feed the forest fires that occur in a natural and cyclical manner in these environmental conditions. Therefore, the Mediterranean Systems of Agriculture have evolved to control the shrubs and the extensification of the systems because of low productivity. Sustainability is achieved by increase of productivity through improvement of the soil and irrigation. The application of these principles to the Mediterranean Forest resulted in the preservation of the trees, control of the shrubs and improvement of the pastures. Thus, the Mediterranean Agro-Silvo-Pastoral Systems have developed to recover and improve the soil. This desideratum is obtained by an efficient usage of Mediterranean Permanent Pastures. These, in turn, are only sustainable through proper grazing systems. All species of domestic animals are used in the process and because of the seasonal irregularity of the production of forage biomass, the Extensive Systems of Animal Production depend on the production and conservation of fodder crops. This paper intends to demonstrate how to recover a Mediterranean Forest farm, converting it into a Mediterranean Agro-Silvo-Pastoral System, known in Portugal as Montado. This is achieved using the Montado Crop Rotation and the Feeding Scheme of Extensive Systems of Animal Production, and needs investment in infrastructures for its implementation. A brief economic analysis is also elaborated, to conclude the technical, economic and environmental sustainability