Patterns of Vegetation Cover Shaping the Cultural Landscapes in the Iberian Peninsula

Abstract

This chapter analyzes the current vegetation cover models in the Iberian Peninsula, based on a systematic approach that recognizes the interaction between physical and cultural/historical conditions. With regard to physical conditions, attention is paid to the factors that regulate primary productivity, both the quantitative aspects and its space and time variability. Climatic factors, i.e. total rainfall, continental character, rainfall unpredictability and seasonal distribution, which define very special situations within the Mediterranean climate area, stand out clearly. Looking to the historical determinants, the main differences come from the degree of integration of the peninsular territories with the Roman and Arab cultures, and the different models of land settlement (e. g communal uses vs great estates) that occurred along the extended historical process known as the Reconquest. The combination of the above-mentioned great influences with those that operate at a local scale allows us to explain the origin of the patchy structure of the landscape, revealing plots that respond to different styles of environmental control of the primary productivity. Two solutions contribute to the delineation of territorial patches: the use of trees as structural components of the agroecosystems (which give rise to numerous silvopastoral models) and the livestock mobility (which allows linking productivity maxima that occur in distant areas). Both adaptations contribute to generate landscapes of great interest. For example, the formations known as dehesas, with scattered holm oak trees which were selected for acorn production, stand out for their originality and heritage value. Other examples include the drover roads network which is a surprising legacy of public pastures and were created in the service of livestock displacements. Other relevant landscapes are the polycultures with a reticular hedgerow frame in the Atlantic fringe, with scattered settlements of small villages or isolated big dwellings. Scenic Mediterranean mosaics often placed on large terraced slopes, ancient irrigation spaces with wide orchards and vegetable gardens, and cereal plains in continental drylands of a steppe character are also part of these landscapes. To finalize, some ecological processes important in the domesticated nature are discussed. Humans acting in the agricultural landscape are committed to safeguard these processes. These comments can also be seen as recommendations for achieving sustainability in the use of resources.