Economic analysis of private-owned ranges improvement. Confrontation of respective problems
Almost all plans of range improvement have an expected duration of use longer than a year. The economic analysis of these investment plans includes the comparison, per Ha, of the investment plan cost with the present value of the annual net inputs. Therefore, to make sure if an investment plan is profitable or not (acceptability criterion) or how much this plan is relatively profitable in comparison with other compatible or competitive investments (selection criterion), we must know the interest rate of loan of the invested capital as well as the opportunity cost of the same capital in conjunction with the use of some evaluation criteria. It is implied that if the investment includes some risk rate then this risk should be taken into consideration when evaluate the plan.
Livestock management in protected areas: The situation in Greece and recommendations for the future
Livestock management in protected areas is a controversial issue. The paper describes the management system of protected areas as it is formed by recent legislation, examines the integration of livestock issues in it, identifies problems and recommends guidelines for the future.
Improvement of rangeland productivity and soil protection from erosion by seeding range species
Seeding of improved range species (grasses and legumes) increases the productivity of degraded rangelands. Grass and legume species are grown at the experimental farm of the Forest Research Institute for seed production. These seeds have been used for improving rangelands and rehabilitation wildburned shrublands in the last ten years. The results of this program are briefly presented in this paper. Cultivated species include the perennial grasses Dactylis glomerata, Phalaris aquatica, Agropyron cristatum, A. desertorum, A. trichoforum, Bromus inermis, the annuals Bromus mollis and Lolium rigitum and the legumes Lotus corniculatus and Trifolium subterraneum. Most of these species used in the conversion of shrublands to grasslands. The results were an increase of herbage production for the grazing animals and soil protection from sheet erosion in the first two years after the wildfire.
Woody fodder plants: Their role in the Mediterranean production systems
Experience with deciduous woody fodder plants in Greece is reviewed and their role in grazing production systems is discussed. The species reported are Amorpha fruticosa L., Carpinus orientalis Mill., Colutea arborescens L., Corylus avellana L., Fraxinus ornus L., Ostrya carpinifolia Scop., Pirus amygdaliformis Vill., Quercus pubescens Willd., Quercus sessiliflora Salich and Robinia pseudoacacia L.. Comparing the leguminous species (Robinia pseudoacacia, Amorpha fruticosa, Colutea arborescens) with the remaining species, the leguminous ones have a higher content of crude protein and a higher IVOMD value. Fodder plants produce high amounts of grazable material during summer with a relative preference high for Robinia pseudoacacia, low for Amorpha fruticosa, Colutea arborescens and Corylus avellana and medium for the remaining species. Based on such data an operational management scheme of woody fodder plantations is discussed.
Problems of range management in the region of Macedonia
Rangelands constitute 33% of the whole region of Macedonia and cover 1.116.000 ha. In these rangelands 1.380.000 sheep, 1.120.000 goats and 13.000 cattle are grazing. The main range management problems are the followings: a) Overgrazing as well as undergrazing, due to the free and uncontrolled grazing system that the stock-breeders implement. b) Reduction of the rangelands , mainly because of their use for agricultural purposes. c) Inability of the government services to apply proper use of rangelands by taking the necessary legal and technical measures.
