Meetings of the Royal Botanical Society of The Netherlands

A land evaluation according to the FAO procedure (Beek) for grazing of both livestock (cattle, sheep, goats) and wild life (red deer, wild boar) is carried out in an area around the confluence of the River Tajo and Tietar, Province of Caceres, Spain, The land evaluation became necessary because of recent changes in the agricultural system in the area. The traditional agriculture includes multiple land use for pig and sheep transhumance, cereal cultivation and charcoal production (Quercus ilex and Quercus sober. mast production, charcoal and cork). Due to swine fever and socio-economic factors the originally balanced system is changing into cattle and sheep ranching. Some ranches with red deer and wild boar are introduced. (Spiers, Damen et al., Ferguson, internal reports ITC). In the first stage a land-unit map is prepared with the help of aerial photography, according to I.T.C. procedures (Zonneveld). The land unit map includes information on geomorphology vegetation, soils, and land use. With a field survey the floristic, geological soil and land use content is given to each land unit (mapping unit).