Model of a productive agroforestry system in Extremadura (Southwest Spain)

In Extremadura; Southwest Spain; there are around 11;000 hectares occupied by chestnut trees; most of which are traditionally managed as agroforestry systems with a mixed use of nut production and other products. In this region; chestnuts has been used for both human and animal consumption; mainly for pigs; sheep and goats. CASTANEA operational group developed practices to transform abandoned chestnut groves into high-value productive agroforestry systems under climate change. The results of the project show that it is possible to transform chestnut groves for wood production into chestnut groves for nut production. This change was done through thinning chestnut groves so distance between the selected remaining trees is 10-15 m. The selected trees were pollarded at the height of 1.5 m and grafting was used to introduce different chestnut varieties. The initial cost of changing the production type is high due to removing wood residues and time spent on managing the trees. As a part of agroforestry; chestnut production is compatible for instance with intercropping; mushroom production; and grazing. The model of a productive agroforestry system is developed by the operational group CASTANEA.