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Whither Working Oak Woodlands?

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Mediterranean Oak Woodland Working Landscapes

Part of the book series: Landscape Series ((LAEC,volume 16))

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Abstract

Comparative research into the human-maintained economic and ecological systems referred to as working landscapes is a rarity in the literature. Nonetheless, developing such comparisons is the end goal of this book. Altogether, 44 field scientists are contributing authors, with some appearing in multiple contributions, but others spelling out the specific knowledge crucial to just one part of a single chapter. In this final commentary, the book’s editors lay out the conclusions attained in this extended inquiry, suggest research needs and lessons learned, and raise the issue of policies that are needed, some urgently, to support oak woodland working landscapes. We recognize a number of takeaway lessons from this long-term project, including advances in economic analysis that make it possible to assess the total economic value of a landscape. We have come to, as we journeyed through the production of this volume, an overall conclusion that seems to us important: Just because two places appear similar hardly means that they are alike; oftentimes the variations are far more than skin deep. But with that as an initial concession, it pays to acknowledge how much can be learned from comparative research that matches physical, cultural, historical, economic, and geographical features, and then carefully places likenesses and departures side-by-side, in a deliberate attempt to learn across oceans, landscapes, economies, and societies.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The RECAMAN project (Valoración de la Renta y el Capital de los Montes de Andalucía) of the Junta de Andalucía, initiated in 2008, is ongoing and applies the Agroforestry Accounting System at the regional scale to measure total income and capital from the montes of Andalucía in Spain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, University of Nevada, Reno, MS 0154, Reno, NV, 89557–0048, USA

    Paul F. Starrs

  2. Institute of Public Goods and Policies (IPP), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Albasanz 26–28, 28037, Madrid, Spain

    José L. Oviedo

  3. Institute of Public Goods and Policies (IPP), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Albasanz 26–28, 28037, Madrid, Spain

    Pablo Campos

  4. Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall , Berkeley, CA, MC 3110, 94720, USA

    Lynn Huntsinger

  5. Department of Biogeography and Global Change, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (BGC-MNCN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Serrano 115bis, E-28006, Madrid, Spain

    Mario Díaz

  6. Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall , MC 3110, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA

    Richard B. Standiford

  7. Forest Research Centre, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology, Carretera de la Coruña km 7.5, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Gregorio Montero

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  1. Paul F. Starrs
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  2. José L. Oviedo
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  3. Pablo Campos
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  4. Lynn Huntsinger
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  5. Mario Díaz
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  6. Richard B. Standiford
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  7. Gregorio Montero
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paul F. Starrs .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Institute of Public Goods and Policies, Spanish National Research Council, Albasanz 26-28, Madrid, 28037, Madrid, Spain

    Pablo Campos

  2. , Dept. Environ. Sci. Policy Manage., University of California at Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall MC 3114, Berkeley, 94720, California, USA

    Lynn Huntsinger

  3. , Institute of Public Goods and Policies, Spanish National Research Council, Albasanz 26-28, Madrid, 28037, Madrid, Spain

    Jose Luis Oviedo Pro

  4. , Department of Geography, University of Nevada at Reno, MacKay Science Mail Stop, Reno, 89557, Nevada, USA

    Paul F Starrs

  5. , Biogeography and Global Change, Spanish National Research Council, Serrano 115 bis, Madrid, 28006, Madrid, Spain

    Mario Diaz

  6. , Dept of Environ Sci Policy and Manage, University of California at Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall MC 3114, Berkeley, 94720, California, USA

    Richard B Standiford

  7. , Centro de Investigación Forestal, Inst Nacl Invest Tecnol Agrar Aliment, Ctra. de La Coruña, km 7.5, Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Gregorio Montero

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Starrs, P.F. et al. (2013). Whither Working Oak Woodlands?. In: Campos, P., et al. Mediterranean Oak Woodland Working Landscapes. Landscape Series, vol 16. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6707-2_15

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