Joint planning process for better pastoral paths and grazing areas layouts in RNCFS d'Orlu, Ariège

A joint definition of pastoral clearings, organized by a group including all the stakeholders from the protected area, started up in 2014 to improve efficiency of pastoral paths and grazing areas layouts.

During two field sessions, before and after clearing works, the representatives of the landowner and the manager (ONCFS) of the protected area, the livestock farmer and the company in charge of field clearing, reviewed together all the concerned areas (200 ha) to:

– compare individual stakes (related to pastoral or ecological issues),

– define the range and the local conditions of clearing

– and finally evaluate their quality.

It appeared that the quality of clearings, measured by the likeness with the previewed works in the first session, reached up to 90% of conformity and positive ecological impact on capercaillie and pyrenean grey partridge habitat.

It also revealed the importance of field sessions previously to any work planning, witch guarantee acceptance by all stakeholders.

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