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Research Project
Local adaptative responses of pastoralism to climate change in the Natural Park of Montesinho (Portugal)
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Publications
Characterization Of Grazing Patterns: Analyzing a Goat Herd Dynamics in Montesinho Natural Park
Publication . Benmellouk, Issam; Castro, José; Essagh, Salaheddine
This study investigates the grazing patterns of a goat herd within Montesinho Natural
Park, emphasizing the interplay of environmental variables, seasonal dynamics, and
land use types. The research uses GPS tracking data and GIS analysis, to explores how
terrain or seasonal transitions, among other factors, could influence grazing patterns
across different seasons. The findings highlight that oak forests support more extended
and diverse grazing routes at higher altitudes during summer and autumn, contrasting
with shorter, less varied routes observed in chestnut forests and orchards during winter
and spring. Terrain variables like altitude, slope position, and land use like maritime
pine forests significantly influence grazing patterns, especially in rugged terrains with
lower topographic wetness. This study underscores the resilience of traditional grazing
practices amidst environmental variability and offers insights crucial for sustainable
livestock management and conservation efforts in rangeland ecosystems. As pastoral
communities adapt to ongoing environmental changes, the research contributes
valuable knowledge essential for developing adaptive strategies aimed to preserve
biodiversity, enhance ecosystem resilience, and safeguard the cultural heritage of
pastoralism in Montesinho Natural Park.
Mapeando memórias e percursos da pastorícia. Respostas adaptativas às alterações climáticas em Montesinho (Portugal)
Publication . Frazão-Moreira, Amélia; Castro, José; Castro, Marina
a sofrer transformações em consequência de alterações populacionais e socioeconómicas que se revelam no abandono do sistema agropecuário tradicional. Por outro lado, as previsões das mudanças de clima apontam para a substituição, nesta região, do bioclima temperado húmido por um bioclima sub-húmido mesomediterrânico até ao final do século. As alterações climáticas, em concreto a diminuição dos recursos hídricos, são já sentidas pelos pastores de pequenos ruminantes (caprinos e ovinos de raças autóctones), que lhes tentam fazer face modificando formas de gestão das pastagens e forragens. O estudo do âmbito da antropologia ambiental aqui apresentado, alicerçado numa etnografia de caminhada, no mapeamento dos
percursos da pastorícia e na recolha da memória de itinerários, experiências e saberes do passado, foi enquadrado numa pesquisa multidisciplinar que pretende retratar as respostas locais adaptativas do pastoreio nas dimensões biofísica e sociocultural (Projeto Pastopraxis, FCT MTS/CAC/0028/2020). Equaciona-se assim o lugar dos conhecimentos ecológicos e técnicos locais e das perceções acerca do clima, bem como a mobilização de práticas agropecuárias tradicionais nestas respostas adaptativas, sem descurar o diálogo com modos de fazer das ciências agrárias e com as dinâmicas de inserção da atividade pastoril local em processos económicos e políticos de contornos globalizantes, concretizada, por exemplo, nas diretivas e apoios económicos à produção de raças autóctones.
Characterization of Grazing Patterns: Analyzing Sheep Herd Dynamics in Montesinho Natural Park
Publication . Fellahi, Mohamed; Castro, Marina; Castro, José; Yessef, Mohammed
The production of small ruminants in North-East Portugal is an extensive activity, mainly based
on the exploitation of spontaneous resources, which is strongly conditioned by seasonality.
Shepherds direct their herds on daily grazing routes through different types of resources,
creating a mosaic of varied land uses within the same management unit. This practice integrates
the exploitation of landscape by-products such as spontaneous native vegetation and agriculture
leftovers.
This study, part of the PASTOpraxis project, focuses on characterizing the grazing patterns of
a sheep herd breed, Churra Galega Bragançana Branca, in Montesinho Natural Park, Portugal.
Using a GNSS collar, data for each day of grazing were monitored and captured over a year
from March 2022 to March 2023. The data obtained from the GNSS collar were integrated into
GIS and analyzed using RStudio to evaluate and characterize grazing patterns and sheep
behaviour. Significant insights into the temporal and spatial dynamics of flock behaviour were
obtained through descriptive and inferential statistical analyses, including Principal Component
Analysis (PCA).
The research highlighted the influence of seasonal and climatic variations on grazing journey
duration, the critical role of diverse land use types such as orchards, shrublands, and temporary
crops, and the adaptive strategies shepherds employ to optimize grazing efficiency. Key
findings revealed that grazing durations were more prolonged in spring and autumn, with
significant correlations between grazing patterns and variables like elevation, relative slope
position, and topographic wetness index.
The study underscores the importance of integrating traditional pastoral knowledge with
modern monitoring techniques to sustain grazing practices amid changing environmental
conditions and highlights the potential impacts of climate change on pastoral systems.
Knowledge and grazing journeys: dialogues on adaptive responses to climate change in Montesinho (Portugal)
Publication . Frazão-Moreira, Amélia; Castro, José; Castro, João Paulo; Pais, Isa; Amieira, João; Serieperi, Vitor; Castro, Marina
Biophysical, ecological and sociocultural
local adaptative responses of pastoralism
(small ruminant indigenous breeds) to
climate change.
Understanding the place of local ecological
knowledge and climate perceptions in adaptive responses. Engaged Researech
Building on the dialogue between different
types of knowledge (herders, state service technicians, zootechnical and forestry scientists, anthropologists/ethnobiologists), the results are intended to equip
practitioners and decision-makers with
tools that guarantee the continuity of
mountain pastoralism while safeguarding
local experiences and knowledge.
Development of an IoT-Based Device for Data Collection on Sheep and Goat Herding in Silvopastoral Systems
Publication . Araujo, Mateus; Leitão, Paulo; Castro, Marina; Castro, José; Bernuy, Miguel
To evaluate the ecosystem services of silvopastoral systems through grazing activities, an advanced Internet of Things (IoT) framework is introduced for capturing extensive data on the spatial dynamics of sheep and goat grazing. The methodology employed an innovative IoT system, integrating a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) tracker and environmental sensors mounted on the animals to accurately monitor the extent, intensity, and frequency of grazing. The experimental results demonstrated the high performance and robustness of the IoT system, with minimal data loss and significant battery efficiency, validating its suitability for long-term field evaluations. Long Range (LoRa) technology ensured consistent communication over long distances, covering the entire grazing zone and a range of 6 km in open areas. The superior battery performance, enhanced by a solar panel, allowed uninterrupted operation for up to 37 days with 5-min interval acquisitions. The GNSS module provided high-resolution data on movement patterns, with an accuracy of up to 10 m after firmware adjustments. The two-part division of the device ensured it did not rotate on the animals’ necks. The system demonstrated adaptability and resilience in various terrains and animal conditions, confirming the viability of IoT-based systems for pasture monitoring and highlighting their potential to improve silvopastoral management, promoting sustainable practices and conservation strategies. This work uniquely focuses on documenting the shepherd’s role in the ecosystem, providing a low-cost solution that distinguishes itself from commercial alternatives aimed primarily at real-time flock tracking.
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Funders
Funding agency
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Funding programme
Projetos de IC&DT para a promoção de atividades de I&D de âmbito interdisciplinar e pluridisciplinar a realizar na região do Parque Natural do Montesinho
Funding Award Number
MTS/CAC/0028/2020