1. Agroforestry in Portugal
Pics – Facts – Figures – Present – Future
Contribution to the
European Agroforestry Association
João HN Palma, Joana A Paulo
Paris, December 2011
Forest Research Centre, School of Agronomy, Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal

2. Agroforestry in Portugal, contribution to the EAA
Pics “extensive” pig production
Holm oak grassland

3. Agroforestry in Portugal, contribution to the EAA
Facts
Textual references in legislation:
• 1546 – Letter from the “sailing business” to the king, asking to avoid over
cork extraction due to “wood weekneess” in cork wood
• 7th August 1546 – King João III forbids cork oak cuttings for charcoal
production in a region along the tagus river
• “Tree Law” of 1565 determining the plantation of trees in “all adequate
land”
• 1605, Felipe II protects the royal forests against cuts , hunting and
abusing grazing
• 1783, D Maria I forbids indiscriminated tree cuttings and induced fire
• 1926 Starts the “wheat campaign”, an intensive agricultural demand with
depleption of trees in the land
• 1986, Portugal enters in EU and in 1980‟s/1990‟s, new forest plantations
occur.
• 2008, Transposed EU directive 1698/2005 to Portuguese law supporting
Agroforestry

4. Agroforestry in Portugal, contribution to the EAA
Figures
2005 Land Use Area %
Forest 3 458 557 39
Shrubland 1 926 630 22
Inland water 161 653 2
Agriculture 2 929 544 33 36%
Other uses 432 050 5 of forest

5. Agroforestry in Portugal, contribution to the EAA
Present “Article 44” implemented since 2008:
Aids:
50% for the establishment
Maintenance premium:
•Broadleaves: 160€/ha/year
•Conifers: 100€/ha/year
Compensation (NON CUMULATIVE with SFP):
Majoration of 1.3 in case of high quality wood (Acer pseudoplatanus, Castanea sativa, Fraxinus
spp., Juglans nigra, Juglans regia, Quercus coccinea, Quercus robur, Quercus rubra, Prunus
avium)
Max compensation per beneficiary: Farmers: 20 000 €/year, Others: 10 000 €/year
Area Farmers Other
(€/ha/year) (€/ha/year)
<5ha 250 125
>5ha and <25ha 200 100
>25ha and < 50ha 150 75
>50ha 100 50

6. Agroforestry in Portugal, contribution to the EAA
Future
Limitations:
• Knowledge and recognition about the economic, social and ecological
benefits of agroforestry systems
• Knowledge about new forest-agricultural combinations possibilities.
• Aids restricted to 50% in establishment. The establishment is the highest
economic input, especially if the understorey is to be grazed, needing more
elaborated tree protection.
• Legal restrictions to the aids attribution (for example: areas must be included in
a „forest management plan‟ approved by the national forest authority; minimum
area of 5ha required for requesting financial support)
• Land area fragmentation in North and Central Portugal
• Unorganized/non established market for quality wood (saw-mill, transport,
etc...)
• Empirical perception on limitations in the agro component. Its profitability in
an agroforestry context.
• Land abandonment

7. Agroforestry in Portugal, contribution to the EAA
Future
Limitations. Possible solutions:
• AF systems in Portugal are often called Agro-Silvo-Pastural. Temporary
grazing may be limiting factor for tree establishment. Changes should occur in
the restrictions to aids attribution, in particular in the percentage of the
establishment (small amount reduction in maintenance premium could
correct this) as trees need stronger protection (higher initial costs).
• Scientific and technical knowledge dissemination to stakeholders,
especially to landowner‟s organizations which are frequently directly related to
the landowner‟s decision. Spreading the word through forestry
associations/organizations (Forest Intervention Areas - ZIF)
• Regional market organization
• Practices valuing social demands such as certification, and added values
other than production

8. Agroforestry in Portugal, contribution to the EAA
Future
European Agroforestry Association
• Discussion, exchange of ideas, networking, meetings, research
networking
• Lobby in the EU for the spread of AF implementation
• Lobby for Biodiversity conservation/improvement and other env services in
agricultural land, (supported by the EU Lisbon treaty), either by promoting the
maintenance of existing traditional agroforestry (avoid tree removals under CAP
„good agricultural practices‟) and exploring management approaches that
maximise env services, e.g. biodiversity
• Permanent plot and experimental trials inventory among European countries
• Promotion of scientific knowledge transfer to stakeholders (public and private
organizations, landowners)
• Diffusion of economic, social and ecological benefits of AF systems, available
tools for management purposes, new forest-agricultural combinations
possibilities…
• Fact Sheets database. Do’s and don’ts in AF. Myth explorer?
• Geo photographic database of existing agroforestry. Traditional and new
systems
• General Information gathering.

9. Agroforestry in Portugal, contribution to the EAA
Future
European Agroforestry Association
Makes sense!
Agroforestry needs it!
We needed it!
Stakeholders need it!
Let‟s go for it...