Fjölrit RALA - 05.12.1999, Síða 38

36
agropastoralism and fires in the Medíterranean
Material and methods
Description ofthe st.udy area
The investigation was carried out in Northern Sardinia (Italy) over a representative
area of about 752,100 ha (Figure 1). The climate is characterised by hot and dry sum-
mers and mild winters. Elevation ranges from sea level to 1359 m a.s.l. (Monte Lim-
bara).
Figure 1. Location of the study area.
With reference to geolithological and morphological aspects, the landscape is quite
heterogeneous; almost all Sardinian landscapes are represented, although landscapes
on intrusive rocks of the Paleozoic are the most widespread. Land degradation and soil
erosion are quite widespread due to past overexploitation.
With reference to land use pattems, the total agricultural area amounts to 637,408
ha, 46% of which is represented by grasslands and permanent pastures, 21% (133,931
ha) by cultivated areas and 3.6% (22,962 ha) by permanent crops. Woodlands, mainly
represented by Mediterranean maquis in its different physiognomic-stmctural types,
cover about 22% (141,276 ha) of the total agricultural area. Here agropastoralism,
mainly based on sheep breeding, represents one of the most important economic ac-
tivities (1.05 million head according to the General Agricultural Census in 1991).
Data accjuisition and analysis
The investigation considered 84 municipalities during the period 1980-1990, the data
set referring to this period being complete and quite homogenous.