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M.C. Silva et al. 2010. Using Business and Biodiversity to put Conservation into practice
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Using Business and Biodiversity to put Conservation into practice: The
Herdade do Esporão Case study
M.C. Silva * , S. Antunes, N. Oliveira & F. Gouveia
AmBioDiv – Valor Natural, Rua Filipe da Mata, Nº 10-1ºF, 1600-071 Lisbon, Portugal
Abstract
Although Esporão estate has a great potential to include High Conservation Value areas, this
will only happen if adequate Biodiversity management and ecological restoration are put into
practice. The results will be presented in the form of indicators relating land use and the type of
landscape. The landscape is dominated by vineyards, olive groves, oaklands, streamside
galleries, scrublands and grasslands. The vegetation units of Esporão are assessed using
phytosociology (Braun-Blanquet, 1979) and cartography, which are the bases for the ‘Habitat
Approach’ methodlogy. The forested landscape is quite diverse, consisting mainly in 750 ha of
Holm oak Montado (Quercus rotundifolia Lam.) although most areas are extremely degraded as
a result of inadequate stone pine afforestation within the Montado areas. Also highly relevant is
the streamside gallery and mixed woodland patchwork covering the area of the Caridade stream
and subsidiaries, which include several High Conservation Value areas spread across the whole
estate.
Keywords: Biodiversity management, ecological restoration, High Conservation Value Areas,
phytosociology, Habitat Approach
1. Introduction
The Esporão estate has signed the Business & Biodiversity (B&B) protocol in 2007, in order to
promote Biodiversity and with the compromise that their activities wouldn’t affect the Esporão
natural values. As a brand, Esporão is dedicated to producing premium wine and olive oil and
is situated (Figure 1), according to Costa et. al. (1998), between the biogeographic superdistricts
Baixo Alentejano and Alto Alentejano (Mariânico-Monchiquense Sector). As a result of a fouryear
field-work surveys of natural and agricultural units of landscape, which have resulted in a
formulated Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), we will present and describe Esporão natural
heritage and the main goals of the Project. The Esporão BAP phase I was finished in November
2008, and is by now in the second year of monitoring. A BAP is a management tool that a)
evaluates and monitors wildlife and habitats with regional/local interest, with conservation
status (IUCN/ICN Red Book) and included in EU Directives, b) evaluates species with
importance in crop protection and soil conservation; c) defines biological indicator groups to
assess and monitor the performance of pro-Conservation practices and c) target both crop areas
and surroundings, including woodlands, wetlands set-aside areas, inter alia, for proper habitat
management. A BAP focus strongly in the concept of High Conservation Value Areas (HCVA).
HCVA are landscape level units with important natural values, i.e., habitats, fauna, flora, and
frequently occur in agroforestry scenarios.
* Corresponding author: Tel.: 914269903
Email address: mctavares@ambiodiv.com
Forest Landscapes and Global Change-New Frontiers in Management, Conservation and Restoration. Proceedings of the IUFRO Landscape Ecology
Working Group International Conference, September 21-27, 2010, Bragança, Portugal. J.C. Azevedo, M. Feliciano, J. Castro & M.A. Pinto (eds.)
2010, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal.