Conflicts between agricultural policy and sustainable land use: The case of northern Spain

The decline of agriculture, observable mainly in industrialized countries, shows itself not only in a gradual decrease in the economic weight of the primary sector, but also in the abandonment of land devoted to agricultural and livestock activities. The phenomenon of agricultural land abandonmen...

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Main Authors: Murua Juan Ramón, Astorkiza Inmaculada, Eguía Begoña
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Economists' Association of Vojvodina 2013-01-01
Series:Panoeconomicus
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1452-595X/2013/1452-595X1303397M.pdf
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author Murua Juan Ramón
Astorkiza Inmaculada
Eguía Begoña
author_facet Murua Juan Ramón
Astorkiza Inmaculada
Eguía Begoña
author_sort Murua Juan Ramón
collection DOAJ
description The decline of agriculture, observable mainly in industrialized countries, shows itself not only in a gradual decrease in the economic weight of the primary sector, but also in the abandonment of land devoted to agricultural and livestock activities. The phenomenon of agricultural land abandonment is complex and, in order to explain the causes, it is necessary to consider not only the physical and productive features of the land but also the social and economic characteristics of the area. It also appears to be conditioned by production specialization, since traditional livestock-raising areas show a higher risk of abandonment. The process, which is gradual, starts with a reduction in production intensity followed by increasing marginalization and, finally, the total abandonment of land use. Focusing on a representative area on the Cantabrian Coast of northern Spain, this study tests the hypothesis that a large portion of agricultural land in livestock-oriented regions is underused. It also evaluates the viability of forestry as an alternative use for abandoned lands and the potential effects of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform.
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spelling doaj.art-e0f88f0521664eb9b1a89ce5fe2d318b2022-12-21T20:04:12ZengEconomists' Association of VojvodinaPanoeconomicus1452-595X2013-01-0160339741410.2298/PAN1303397MConflicts between agricultural policy and sustainable land use: The case of northern SpainMurua Juan RamónAstorkiza InmaculadaEguía BegoñaThe decline of agriculture, observable mainly in industrialized countries, shows itself not only in a gradual decrease in the economic weight of the primary sector, but also in the abandonment of land devoted to agricultural and livestock activities. The phenomenon of agricultural land abandonment is complex and, in order to explain the causes, it is necessary to consider not only the physical and productive features of the land but also the social and economic characteristics of the area. It also appears to be conditioned by production specialization, since traditional livestock-raising areas show a higher risk of abandonment. The process, which is gradual, starts with a reduction in production intensity followed by increasing marginalization and, finally, the total abandonment of land use. Focusing on a representative area on the Cantabrian Coast of northern Spain, this study tests the hypothesis that a large portion of agricultural land in livestock-oriented regions is underused. It also evaluates the viability of forestry as an alternative use for abandoned lands and the potential effects of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform.http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1452-595X/2013/1452-595X1303397M.pdfdeagrarianizationunderutilization and abandonment of agricultural landcattle densityCAP reform
spellingShingle Murua Juan Ramón
Astorkiza Inmaculada
Eguía Begoña
Conflicts between agricultural policy and sustainable land use: The case of northern Spain
Panoeconomicus
deagrarianization
underutilization and abandonment of agricultural land
cattle density
CAP reform
title Conflicts between agricultural policy and sustainable land use: The case of northern Spain
title_full Conflicts between agricultural policy and sustainable land use: The case of northern Spain
title_fullStr Conflicts between agricultural policy and sustainable land use: The case of northern Spain
title_full_unstemmed Conflicts between agricultural policy and sustainable land use: The case of northern Spain
title_short Conflicts between agricultural policy and sustainable land use: The case of northern Spain
title_sort conflicts between agricultural policy and sustainable land use the case of northern spain
topic deagrarianization
underutilization and abandonment of agricultural land
cattle density
CAP reform
url http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1452-595X/2013/1452-595X1303397M.pdf
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AT eguiabegona conflictsbetweenagriculturalpolicyandsustainablelandusethecaseofnorthernspain