1. VALONIA OAK SILVOPASTORAL SYSTEMS IN GREECE
Andreas Papadopoulos, Anastasia Pantera
20 April 2017
European Union’s Seventh Framework Program for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no

2. Description of the system
Objective 1: Description of valonia oak (Q. ithaburensis subsp. macrolepis) systems in Greece
Objective 2: Description and innovation in Xeromero silvopastoral system
Objective 3: Description and innovation in Kea Island agrosilvopastoral system
Xeromero forest – W. Greece
Island of Kea

3. Description of the system
Area of valonia oak systems in Greece
29,632 ha (stands, thickets, groups) characterised as traditional silvopastoral systems combining forest and livestock production.
Farmland or abandoned arable fields containing
valonia oak trees characterised as agrosilvopastoral systems combining forest and livestock production.
traditional agricultural,
(Pantera et al. 2008)

4. Description of the system
Site characteristics and ownership
Valonia oak systems found in plain, hilly and semi- mountainous areas up to m, on various rock and soil types and in different layers of vegetation and bioclimatic types.
The 75% is public and community owned and 25% is private or claimed by individuals.

5. Description of the system
Structure
Generally, 3 vegetation layers.
Tree layer consists mainly of valonia oak with ground cover of and density of trees ha-1, on average.
Middle layer consists of shrub species often with
Phlomis fruticosa L. being
dominant due to
overgrazing.
Understorey is rich in species and includes grasses, particularly annual, legumes and many
broad-leaved herbs including
fistulosus and Drimia maritima.
Asphodelus

6. Description of the system
Histor y
Well known since ancient times for their use for:
grazing,
acorn cups harvesting and
wood production for shipbuilding. Acorn cups collection for use in tanning
was the most important economic activity up to 1970s, significantly contributing to the local economy.

7. Description of the system
Present status
The valonia oak systems is currently used only for:
grazing, especially by sheep and goats,
in small scale, only in Kea island for acorn cups harvesting for tanning and acorn nuts for flour production, in an effort to resume its traditional uses for economical and ecological purposes,
in small scale, mainly in Xeromero forest, environmental education and ecotourism.

8. Research and main innovations
Action: In 2014, two stakeholder group established including farmers and other interested people, one in Xeromero and one in Kea Island, which highlighted key challenges for a range of valonia oak agroforestry systems practices.
Subjects discussed were over the possible use of valonia oak silvopastoral systems for:
the production of fodder,
acorn cups and acorn nuts,
wood, medicinal plants and other provisioning and regulating
services
their protection from existing threats such as low tree regeneration.

9. Research and main innovations
The working group of the project, taking into account the opinions of the stakeholders, has decided to investigate:
In Xeromero – W. Greece silvopastoral system, the valonia oak natural regeneration capacity,
In Kea Island – Cyclades agrosilvopastoral
system,
the improvement
of valonia
oak system
productivity by sowing promising forage species.

10. Xeromero oak woodland
System description

11. Xeromero oak woodland
System description

12. Xeromero oak woodland Innovation
Four different locations were selected near four different sheep holding areas.
In each location, three replicated plots (total 12) were established.
In each plot two factors (fenced and shrub removal) were combined with the four treatments, with a 20 m2 sub-plot per treatment.
Treatments: 1) fenced and cleared of shrubs (FNS); 2) fenced with shrubs (FWS); 3) grazed and cleared of shrubs (GNS); and 4) grazed with shrubs (GWS). 1 2 3 4

13. Kea island agrosilvopastoral system
System description

14. Kea island agrosilvopastoral system
System description

15. Kea island agrosilvopastoral system
Innovation
GREECE
Two commercial seed mixtures, namely “ISPAAM”
and “Fertiprado” (F) were sown and a control plots with native pasture were selected.
Five replicated plots were established for each treatment, beneath and outside of the canopy of valonia oak trees.
Treatments: 1) IS= ISPAAM Shaded, 2) IU= ISPAAM Unshaded, 3) FS=Fertiprado Shaded, 4) FU= Fertiprado Unhaded, 5) CS=Control Shaded, 6) a)
ΚΕΑ Ν 1 3 5
CU=Control Unshaded.
2, 4, 6

16. Initial results Xeromero forest
A tendency to increased number of seedlings and young saplings and the number of acorns in the protected areas as compared to the grazed ones.
On the contrary, understorey clearing seems not to affect the number of seedlings and young saplings.

17. Initial results Kea island
Shading of valonia oak trees favoured production for both cultivars (seed mixtures) as compared to the ones growing in the open.
The presence of trees contribute and provide
positively numerous
ecosystem services which are necessary for the protection and better functioning of valonia oak agrosilvopastoral systems in the island of Kea

18. Conclusions
Valonia oak systems of Greece are traditional silvopastoral or agrosilvopastoral systems of high natural and cultural value.
Almost all silvopastoral systems are nowadays without any form of management and are only used for livestock grazing which seems to hindering tree regeneration.
Whist the major part of the agrosilvopastoral systems is abandoned from their traditional use, many fields are been used for other uses such as touristic, urban, even if they have still high productive capability
Restoring the traditional uses of valonia oak systems (harvesting acorn cups and nuts and firewood for the tree, organic agriculture and livestock raising), is essential for ecological and economic reasons.
Their proper management and development based on agroforestry practices can render them productive as they were in the past for the benefit of local communities and the environment.

19. European Union’s Seventh Framework Program for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no