El aprovechamiento tradicional de la dehesa boyal en un área de montaña del centro de España. Puebla de la Sierra (Madrid)

Abstract

The traditional management of an open wood for the feeding of ploughing cattle (dehesa boyal), located in a mountain area of Central Spain, was studied. The study area is situated in Puebla de la Sierra (Madrid). The dehesa has 336 ha and is strategically situated between the communal lands of the higher slopes and the village. The main tree species is melojo oak (Quercus pyrenaica) with other less frequent species interesting from a conservation point of view like sessile oak (Quercus petraea). The management rules in the dehesa originated in medieval times, with two main types of wood management: the coppice and the open wood pasture (monte hueco). The dehesa of La Puebla was mostly used as an open wood pasture until the 20th century. Characteristics of the traditional management of the dehesa have been recreated through interviews to the old inhabitants of the village. The seasonal grazing by cows, sheep and goats is described for different parts of the dehesa. Lopping for the different tree species and the rules that regulated them are described. Also are discussed the effects of traditional management on the structure and composition of the dehesa wood. Finally, the importance of the woodland traditional management for nature conservation is analysed. The utility of the management rules studied, which does not change a large quantity of the forest characteristics (large trees, diversity, heterogeneity, etc.), is pointed out. Also is highlighted to integrate the traditional management for local people, scientific support for the improvement of the nature conservation methods and the cultural and educational programs in the planning of this highly interesting nature reserve.