Agricultural and Environmental Terms Glossary

Agricultural and Environmental Terms Defined

Cañada

A traditional route or path used for the migratory movement of sheep.

Cerco

A type of fishing gear used to capture pelagic species.

Reparcelling

An agrarian policy aimed at reducing smallholdings by reorganizing land plots within municipalities.

Cork

A natural product obtained from the bark of the cork oak tree, typically harvested from forest holdings.

Crops Under Plastic Sheeting

An agricultural system that utilizes plastic sheeting (often foam plastic) to create warm, moist conditions, promoting faster crop development.

Rainfed Crops

Agricultural products that receive water solely from natural precipitation. (Common in Mediterranean regions)

Crops on Terraces

Crops cultivated on terraced land, typically on steep slopes, to protect them from erosion. (Common in areas like the Mediterranean coast and Canary Islands)

Fodder Crops

Crops grown specifically for animal feed, such as alfalfa and corn. These are often cultivated in irrigated areas and in regions with more humid physical environments, like northern Spain.

Industrial Crops

Agricultural products that require pre-industrial processing before their final use, such as sunflower, sugar beet, and tobacco.

Transgenic Crops

Agricultural products that have been genetically engineered to possess specific desired characteristics.

Deforestation

The elimination of forest cover from an area. A primary cause is fire, whether accidental or intentional, often to clear land for other uses such as pasture, agriculture, or construction.

Dehesa

A large agro-silvopastoral land use system (often exceeding 500 hectares), particularly common in Spain and Portugal. It features limited agricultural use and extensive livestock farming, typically with indigenous breeds of cattle (for meat or milk), sheep, and Iberian pigs.

Disentailment

A legal process, notably carried out in Spain starting in 1837, involving the sale of properties (rural and urban, often communal) previously held by institutions such as the Church, nobility, or municipalities.

Sustainable Development

A principle of socio-economic development that emphasizes responsible management of natural resources. It aims to promote strategies that minimize conflicts between the growing needs for natural resources and the imperative of environmental conservation.

Sanding

A cultivation technique involving the application of a layer of sand over fertile soil to prevent water evaporation.

Stabling

A method of livestock management where animals are kept indoors in a barn. This practice offers several benefits for animal care and can lead to higher yields for farmers.

Farm

A technical-economic unit where agricultural products are obtained under the responsibility of an entrepreneur or farmer.

Extensive Exploitation

An agricultural land use mode characterized by a variety of products, the use of traditional techniques, and limited capital investment, typically resulting in lower yields.