Impact of grazing on the agro-ecological characteristics of a Mediterranean oak woodland. Five years of observations at Monte Pisanu forest.

In the Mediterranean areas, silvo-pastoralism represents a territorial management system where trees and shrubs grow together with herbs and where livestock takes advantage on such botanical association. This system still plays an important role for the socio-economic subsistence of rural populations, representing an externality against the progressive abandonment of rural areas. From an ecological point of view, a correct grazing management, related with the potential forage availability and quality, can encourage the conservation of high biodiversity. The forest of Monte Pisanu is a protected area in the Central North Sardinia and represent an interesting example of multifunctional silvo-pastoral management. The aim of this work was to contribute to this management considering, with a five-year experience, the agronomic and ecological value of the site and the impact of grazing on the agro-ecological status of the herbaceous cover. Five years of observation show that grazing activity keeps high biodiversity levels and, on the other hand, negatively impacts the pastoral value.