Fjölrit RALA - 05.12.1999, Side 42

40
Agropastoralism and fires in the Mediterranean
CONCLUSION AND PERSPECTIVES
The study carried out in Northem Sardinia on the relationship between fires and
agropastoralism allowed a better understanding of a complex phenomenon such as fire
in Mediterranean rural areas. In particular the investigation confirmed that:
• Agropastoralism plays a major role among the causes of fires. The use of fire
as an agronomic practice for shmb clearance is still a deeply rooted tradition
among mral populations.
• The positive correlation between sheep number and bumed surfaces can be
considered as an indirect effect of agropastoral activities on land degradation
phenomena.
• Fires are often linked to socio-economic aspects, such as tourism and proba-
bly unemployment rate.
This work is a methodological contribution towards the understanding of fire phe-
nomenon. Within the EU-MEDALUS project, a more comprehensive investigation
involving the whole island will be carried out; other socioeconomic indicators will be
considered and a more accurate methodology for bumed areas inventorying will be
tested.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Work carried within the MEDALUS III project was funded by the European Commission under its
Environment and Climate Programme, contract number ENV4-CT95-0115. The support is gratefully
acknowledged.
References
Kalantzopoulos, G.C. 1993. Cheeses from ewes' and goats’ milk. In: Cheese: Chemestry, Physics and
Microbiology (ed. P.F. Fox). Chapmann & Hall, London, 505-553.
Margaris, N.S. 1992. Primary sector and environment in the Aegean. Environmental Management
16(5), 569-574.
Molina, M.J. and Sanroque, P. 1996. Impact of forest fíres on desertification processes: A review in
relation to soil eroditibility. In: Soil Degradation and Desertifícation in Mediterranean Environments
(eds. J. Rubio and A. Calvo). Geoforma Ediciones, Logrono, 145-163.
UNEP 1994. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertifications in those Countries Experiencing
Serious Drought and/or Desertifícation, Particularly in Africa. Annex IV. UNEP, Geneve, 71 pp.