Agrosilvopastoral systems in Greece

Agrosilvopastoral systems traditional and new occur in several parts of Greece and play an important role in local economy. They also play a very important ecological role because they prevent soil erosion and surface runoff while they improve the landscape and conserve the biodiversity. They separate to several types according to tree species. Over the last decades, these systems have been substantially reduced due to several reasons including both extensification and intensification. A measure for the preservation of these systems could be a national survey. For this reason the area of Askio Municipality was selected as a study case. Several combinations of trees and crops were identified in that survey conducted during the last three years. The main tree species were oaks, walnuts, poplars, and fruit trees. The understorey crops consisted mainly of cereals (wheat, barley, corn), lucerne, tobacco and vegetables. Crops are used for livestock feeding directly (grain, hay) or indirectly (grazing). In the latter case, animals use these areas in the critical periods of the year such as the summer and early autumn (after the crop harvest).