1 minute read

MAMMALS

Next Article
REFERENCES

REFERENCES

Similarly, open canopy grazed forests have a greater diversity than homogeneous dense forests managed exclusively for timber production, as light entering the openings allows the presence of reptiles, insects and mammals. The clearings that are created are similar to those in a mature forest, with many dead standing and overhanging trees. The formation of this landscape structure by grazing is positive for many species, but at the same time, the forest should be given the opportunity to expand into the most inaccessible places. In the inaccessible and denser stands, bears and deer will hide and breed, but in the forest openings they will find their food sources. In these clearings and in the contact zone between forest and meadows, most of the fruit trees are found and they provide their fruits at different times to both humans and wild animals.

Likewise, in agricultural land, larger mammals prefer places with a relatively high proportion of bushy and woody vegetation, as they find shelter and fruits to feed on. In contrast, large mammals do not occur in areas without concealment and food sources other than agricultural production. As a result, rodents, which can hide in holes in the ground, increase and damage crops. In Greece, some prefectures, in or- der to control large populations of rodents, use poisons, while the most sustainable treatment would be the re-establishment of hedgerows and the planting of large trees such as oaks, to favour the rodent predators.

Advertisement

Looking at the needs of species with a larger territory, such as the bear, it is found that a mosaic of forests, grasslands and farmland ensures easier movement between different areas. These corridors can be strips of forest, but also thickets or small woodland, as for animals that also move in open environments at night it is sufficient to ensure partial cover and basic food sources to move between mountain ranges and forests (Chouvardas et al. 2013).

If a new approach to farming is to be adopted, it must draw on practices from traditional management and data from species biology and ecology. Planning should be done at both the microhabitat and landscape level by considering wildlife species movement corridors between protected areas that can sustain permanent populations of species. But not just corridors, because the agroforestry landscape is both human habitat and wildlife habitat, and the main modes of recurrent management are crops and livestock breeding. Conservation biology must meet agronomy and rangeland science.

This article is from: