Introducing the montado, the cork and holm oak agroforestry system of Southern Portugal

Abstract

The Portuguese montado is an agro-silvo pastoral system quite similar to the dehesa in Spain, and covering in Portugal most of the Southern region of the country, Alentejo. The trees in the montado are cork oh holm oak, and the system is mostly acknowledged due to the cork production, but also due to its singular savanna like land cover pattern, its multiple and complementary productions, the support of a diversity of ecosystems services and its biodiversity. The present special issue covers the diversity of components of the montado and of perspectives required to understand and assess the functioning of the system. This Editorial introduces the montado system, describes its extension and similarities to the dehesa in Spain, and addresses the multiple productions and externalities of the montado. It also refers to the several components of the system. It focus on the uniqueness and values of this system, stressing its potential and threats, and the requirements for integrated knowledge production. In the end of the Editorial, each one of the papers that compose the special issue are presented.