http://hdl.handle.net/10174/1027 2026-09-22T03:41:21Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42631 Title: Adapting Mediterranean Agroforestry to Global Change: Trade-Offs and Lessons from the Montado Authors: Fatahi, Nour-Elhouda; Pinto-Correia, Teresa; Freitas, Maria de Belém Costa; Marques, J. Tiago; Belhouchette, Hatem Abstract: The Montado, a traditional Mediterranean agro-silvopastoral system, has historically sustained ecological and economic functions through the integration of trees, livestock, and crops. Today, its multifunctionality is increasingly threatened by climate variability, market volatility, and evolving policy frameworks. While previous research has examined Montado dynamics at landscape or plot scales, less attention has been paid to sustainability trajectories at the farm level, where management decisions are made. This study bridges that gap by assessing the sustainability dynamics of farms through a participatory, typology based, scenario approach grounded in a regional typology. We characterized three representative farm archetypes (forestry-focused, mixed agro-silvopastoral, and livestock-focused) and evaluated their trajectories under plausible future scenarios driven by climate, market, and policy pressures. Scenario outcomes were assessed using expert-based scoring (five-point scale), revealing score differences of up to two points across sustainability dimensions between farm archetypes and scenarios. Findings reveal marked trade-offs: Tree-focused farms maintain high environmental value but remain vulnerable to market and labor constraints, while livestock-specialized farms achieve higher economic output at the expense of ecological integrity. Mixed systems demonstrate greater resilience through diversification but face significant labor intensity challenges. We conclude that current “one-size-fits-all” policies generate contradictory incentives. Therefore, adaptive governance frameworks (e.g., results-based payment schemes) are essential to realign farm economics with ecological stewardship. Beyond the Montado, the approach provides insights relevant to other Mediterranean agroforestry systems facing similar sustainability challenges. 2026-03-10T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42629 Title: Spatiotemporal analysis of montado land cover dynamics in southern Portugal: the influence of anthropogenic and natural disturbances Authors: Marques, J. Tiago; Guiomar, Nuno; Machado, Rui; Pinto-Correia, Teresa Abstract: The montado is a traditional agroforestry system in Portugal that combines cork or holm oak trees with pastures and crops. It provides multiple ecosystems services and supports rural livelihoods. However, in recent decades, the montado has faced several threats that have caused its decline and degradation. Here, we analyse the recent changes in montado cover—between 2006 and 2018—and assess the main drivers and processes of change. We used a 2006 montado cover map as a baseline and overlayed it with aerial photographs of 2018, examining the montado areas for land use shifts by installation of intensive crops, wildfire occurrences or tree plantations. Our results show that the montado covered 1,189,390 hectares (ha) in 2018, and that there was a decrease of the montado area from 2006 by 31,312 ha (95% CI 29,706–32,943 ha), declining at an annual loss of 2609 ha (0.21% year−1; 95% CI 0.201–0.223% year−1). Although this is a slower rate compared to an early analysis, the impact of large-scale events (record burned areas) and infrastructure (large dam) likely explains it. The montado area shifts were mainly caused by wildfires (70%), the opening or broadening of clearings due to tree mortality (18%) and the new installations of intensive crops (olive or almond groves and irrigated cereals—8.4%). Most of the analysed quadrats (60%) exhibited one category of loss in montado patches: perforation, loss of area, fragmentation or decrease in the number of patches; but fragmentation was the type of dynamic with higher value of area loss. The perforation specific analysis revealed that this phenomenon of the early phase of decline is prevalent throughout the montado land cover. The main process identified was tree mortality linked to pathogens, pests, and inadequate management, while wildfires and the establishment of intensive agricultural practices were ranked second and third, respectively. Despite the efforts to slow the decline of the montado, we have observed its continuing transformation into smaller, more fragmented and less connected montado patches. These resulting patches are considerably less resilient to the pressures they are facing. In a scenario of the continuation of the decline and loss pressures, the evolving transformation will continue and may even accelerate. 2026-06-24T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42577 Title: Esteya spp. reduce Bursaphelenchus xylophilus reproduction in Pinus pinaster seedlings without consistent improvements in disease outcomes Authors: Pires, David; Vicente, Cláudia S.L.; Mota, Manuel; Inácio, Maria L. Abstract: BACKGROUND Pine wilt disease, caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, threatens pine forests worldwide, yet sustainable biological control strategies remain limited. We evaluated the effects of pre-emptive inoculation with Esteya vermicola and E. floridanum on nematode reproduction and disease outcomes in Pinus pinaster seedlings under greenhouse conditions. RESULTS Seedlings inoculated with E. vermicola or E. floridanum remained free of visible symptoms during the 5-week pre-challenge period. Fungi were subsequently re-isolated from stem tissues at the experimental endpoint, and both treatments significantly reduced nematode reproduction relative to the inoculated control. However, reductions in nematode reproduction were not consistently accompanied by improvements across disease assessment endpoints, including symptom severity, disease progression, and survival. Symptom expression in nematode-free controls indicated that environmental stress contributed to disease assessment endpoints, limiting interpretation of symptom-based measures. Exploratory correlation and permutation analyses suggested treatment-specific differences in the association between nematode reproduction and symptom severity; however, the endpoint design and restricted range of reproduction values following fungal treatment do not distinguish this interpretation from alternative explanations. CONCLUSION Esteya spp. significantly reduced pinewood nematode reproduction in P. pinaster seedlings, but improvements in disease outcomes were inconsistent under the conditions tested. These findings highlight that pathogen reproduction and disease assessment endpoints should both be evaluated when assessing biological control strategies for pine wilt disease. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry. 2026-08-08T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42536 Title: Sheep Grazing Dynamics in Montado Ecosystem: Holistic and Technological Approach Based on Pasture Monitoring Authors: Serrano, João; Moral, F.; Shahidian, S.; Pinto, H.; Paniagua, L.; Carreira, E.; Charneca, R.; Pereira, A. Editors: Gentili, Rodolfo Abstract: Extensive livestock farming is characteristic of the landscape of the Mediterranean regions of Southern Iberian Peninsula. These production systems based on dryland pastures provide a wide range of services and contribute to maintaining environmental balance when compared with intensive agricultural or other livestock production systems. The Portuguese Montado is a habitat of Community importance and is protected under the European Natura 2000 network. This makes any research aimed at preserving, maintaining, or restoring this ecosystem particularly important to ensure its sustainable management. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate: (i) the impact of dolomitic limestone application on soil pH; (ii) the relation between multiple soil parameters; (iii) the impact of grazing preferences and livestock stocking rates on topsoil compaction; (iv) temporal and spatial sheep grazing patterns and sward productivity, quality and floristic composition throughout the growing vegetative season. This study was carried out during the vegetative cycle of 2023/2024 on a 4-ha pasture field located at Mitra farm (Southern Portugal). The experimental design included four treatments resulting from the combination of limestone application (with and without) and stocking rate (traditional: 7 sheep ha−1 ; high: 18 sheep ha−1 ). Sheep grazing preferences, soil compaction and fertility, sward productivity, quality and floristic composition were monitored at 48 sampling areas. The results confirm that improving soil pH through the application of dolomitic limestone is an effective, although slow and gradual process. When combined with grazing management through increased stocking rates, several important outcomes were observed: (i) preferential grazing areas did not exhibit significant differences in soil trampling; (ii) higher stocking rates resulted in less selective grazing; (iii) soil amendment and higher livestock stocking rates contributed to greater pasture crude protein content; and (iv) the influence of pasture quality on grazing preferences depended on the phase of the pasture-grazing cycle. Overall, these findings are promising indicators of sustainability for extensive animal production in Mediterranean dryland silvopastoral systems. However, with regard to the sward, as this study only monitored a single growing season, will need to be validated in future studies. 2026-07-31T23:00:00Z