Wild seeds in the restoration of Mediterranean agroecosystems

Natural pastures are the main resource for extensive livestock farming and the food base of the national heritage of rustic breeds. Recently, their recognition has increased in aspects as transversal as the protection of the natural environment, biodiversity, landscape, mitigation of the risks of global warming, or globally, the generation of ecosystem services.

This is the conceptual framework that supports the proposal to create an Operational Group, with proven capacity to respond to the R&D needs on the role of natural flora in relation to its use in the enhancement and development of our Mediterranean agroecosystems.

This fits well with the calls for attention from the AEI on cooperation for the development of rural areas, and justifies the objective of consolidating the intersectoral group that we propose, whose R&D collaboration histories clearly document the achievement of tangible results in: innovation in forage flora and wild seeds, sustainable development, protection of native breeds and environmental management.

All of this through interdisciplinary studies on our extensive pastoral systems; reports on livestock receptivity of pastures in agrosystems, ZAM, and protected natural spaces; preventive forestry alternatives against fire: RAPCA [National Award 2012]; and tasks of training and social awareness that are increasingly in demand.