Identifying social, economic and technical determinants of silvopastoral practices in temperate uplands: results of a survey in the Massif Central region of France

Silvopastoral farming practices as an answer to land and forest abandonment in disadvantaged areas have been suggested by forestry and agricultural de velopment and research bodies in France, but such practices only occur on a limited area at present. To assess the feasibility of such silvopastoral t echniques in a family farm context, a survey was conducted on silvopastoral systems in spontaneous Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) woods in the Lozere D epartement in France. A sampling procedure and questionnaire was designed t o characterise determinants of silvopastoral practices. In all 150 farms we re visited. A typology of silvopastoral plot management was extracted from the survey. Inputs and outputs were characterised. Typologies of farms and households were also developed, characterised by land, labour, live-stock, consumption and inheritance patterns, The management of woodland plots was similar across farms, but their importance to the whole family farm system differed. Woodlands were considered as a reserve of land, forage or liquidi ty for the long term, but their uses were limited by livestock farmers' sho rt-term technical and economic constraints. To induce development of silvic ultural practices, both their short- and long-term effects must be carefull y considered in relation to farmers' differing objectives. (C) 2001 Elsevie r Science Ltd. All rights reserved.