Spain

Accounting for pastoralists in Spain

Spain has a very diverse range of ecosystems that have been created and transformed over centuries by pastoralism. Some 88% of the country’s land area can be used as pastures at some time of the year. Two main pastoral strategies have evolved: transhumance, and agrosilvopastoralism.

  • Transhumance involves moving animals between winter pastures (usually in the plains) to summer pastures (often in the mountains).
  • Agrosilvopastoralism involves grazing animals on pasture and crop residues, and in forests and tree plantations. The dehesa oak parklands are an example.

No data exist on the number of pastoralists in Spain, the lands they use or the numbers of animals they keep. Pastoralism is in general decline, under pressure from changing economics and unfavourable policies. But awareness of its value for the environment, landscape management and tourism is rising.

  • Title: Accounting for pastoralists in Spain
  • Author: Francesca Pasetti, Concejo de la Mesta; Rubén Serrano and Pablo Manzano, Basque Centre for Climate Change; Pedro Herrera, Fundación Entretantos – Spanish Platform for Extensive Livestock Systems and Pastoralism / League for Pastoral Peoples and Endogenous Livestock Development / 2022
  • Description: Information brief
  • Format: Pdf
  • Pages: 6

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    Internationale Tagung Tierhalterrechte und Biologische Vielfalt

    A report of an International conference on Livestock Keepers’ Rights and Biodiversity organized by the League for Pastoral Peoples and Endogenous Livestock Development at Lichtenberg Castle, Odenwald, Germany, 19 May 2010. Summarizes presentations and discussions by livestock keepers and specialists from Germany, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Spain and Tanzania.

  • Title: Internationale Tagung Tierhalterrechte und Biologische Vielfalt
  • Author: LPP / League for Pastoral Peoples and Endogenous Livestock Development and Local Livestock for Empowerment (LIFE) Network / 2010
  • Description: A report of an International conference on Livestock Keepers' Rights and Biodiversity
  • Format: Zip
  • Pages: 24

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    Kuttapalayam Confirmation

    A group of non-government organizations has called on governments and international organizations to support the conservation of livestock breeds in their original habitats – and by the livestock-keeping groups that developed them.
    Members of the LIFE Network, a grouping of organizations focusing on local livestock breeds, made the call at a conference at Kuttapalayam, in Tamil Nadu, India, on 13-15 August 2010.
    The final statement from the conference calls on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to promote agro-ecosystems approaches to the management of animal genetic resources and support indigenous and local production systems. These goals are already incorporated in the Global Plan of Action on Animal Genetic Resources.
    The NGOs also demanded that livestock keepers be included in the debate about the future of livestock production and to be recognized as guardians of livestock biodiversity.
    The conference statement was signed by 21 NGOs from India, South Africa, Kenya, Spain and Germany.

  • Title: Kuttapalayam Confirmation
  • Author: LIFE Network / LIFE Network / 2010
  • Description: A group of non-government organizations has called on governments and international organizations to support the conservation of livestock breeds in their original habitats - and by the livestock-keeping groups that developed them
  • Format: Zip
  • Pages: 3

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