On the 6th of December, the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF), represented by Isabel Santos, Diana Almeida and Vanessa Quico, visited the pilot area where the LandUnderPressure project studies are being carried out – the Herdade da Coitadinha. We had the pleasure of having with us Engineer José Carlos Ruivo, from Herdade da Coitadinha, collaborating on this visit.
"Don't let the oaks die", said two Englishmen who stayed overnight at the Herdade. This sentence, uttered with humour, reveals the great problem that is faced in this territory: the excessive mortality of trees.
This complex and multifactorial problem has potential origins in the decreasing availability of water due to climate change, poor agricultural practices and the intensity of grazing.
We visited the observation zones that witness this phenomenon, with different degrees of exclusion from grazing.
LandUnderPressure proposes to understand how exclusion from grazing can be a tool for restoring these ecosystems; how grazing management can contribute to the maintenance of the general productivity of the ecosystem and its resilience to climate change; and finally measure how different grazing intensities impact i) various ecosystem services (acorn production; pasture), 2) soil (erosion control) and soil biodiversity, 3) nutrient cycle; and 4) bird diversity.
As the end-user of this research, the ICNF visited the plots where manipulative drought simulation experiments are taking place. These result from synergy with Renewal, another FCUL's research project. They show delimited areas where a certain percentage of precipitation is excluded through a structure that is set up in the field. Tea bags are then installed to quantify the soil decomposition rate, which varies with climate, soil type, use, etc. The experience is standardized by using the same type of tea bags, deriving from internationally standardized experiences. The bags are planted at the same time, in rows of four. Each bag from the four-piece row is then taken from the soil every 3 months, thus allowing us to see decomposition rates by seasons of the year, and throughout the year.
The visit was accompanied by an insightful discussion between the different entities involved, that relate to this context and its problems and opportunities in distinct ways. This allows the sharing of ideas and experiences that are always helpful.
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