The Comon Agricultural Policy (CAP) and agroforestry systems in the European Union

Abstract

This doctoral thesis studies agroforestry systems (SAF), a deliberate join of woody vegetation with annual and/or grassy crops. First, it assesses the main global policies that indicate that SAFs should be promoted and then addresses the characterization of different agroforestry practices at European level both in general and in the characterization of the use of linear woody structures. Finally, the thesis focuses on the study through maps of how the main Rural Development Regulations promote SAFs in Europe. The importance of agroforestry systems in the management of the territory can be analysed from a productive point of view by assessing the contributions of woody vegetation in fertilization. Woody vegetation also helps to temper the microclimate of its habitat and protects the soil from erosion. From an environmental point of view, SAFs improve the use of solar radiation and increase organic matter in the soil, resulting in greater biodiversity and the amenity of the landscape. The latter interacts with the social importance of the SAF, being a source of mobilization of rural tourism, on the other hand, the diversity of products obtained and the reduced dependence on external inputs (fertilizers and feed) contributes to the fixation of the population in the rural environment. SAFs have a higher extent in tropical areas than in temperate areas. The intensification of agriculture over the past century led to its drastic reduction. His political promotion is hampered by a lack of knowledge of its actual extent. At European level we have two data sources, the Corine Land Cover, which has a clearly undervalued extension, concentrated in southern Europe and especially in the Iberian Peninsula and LUCAS, exclusively from the European Union which provides two coverages and two uses, together with other data, for each point visited.