The persistence of wild edible plants in agroforestry systems: the case of wild asparagus in southern Extremadura (Spain
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The persistence of wild edible plants in agroforestry systems: the case of wild asparagus in southern Extremadura (Spain) Rufino Acosta-Naranjo
. Antonio Jesu´s Guzma´n-Troncoso . Jose´ Go´mez-Melara
Received: 22 April 2020 / Accepted: 17 October 2020 Ó Springer Nature B.V. 2020
Abstract As shown in the literature, preserving ecological balance in the Spanish dehesa has traditionally depended on the exploitation of its potential for multifunctionality. Given the increasing number of ecological, climatic, economic and cultural change processes threatening its integrity, new public goods valued by society or the reinvention and revalorisation of existing public goods is, once again, required to contribute to dehesa management in this dynamic context. Historically, humans and ‘wild asparagus’ (Asparagus acutifolius L.), have cohabited within this agro-silvo-pastoral system, establishing a mutually beneficial relationship, since wild asparagus proliferates in the mosaic of forest, shrubs, crops and fields that characterize the dehesa. In addition, this species shows a positive response to collection, which has increased in the last four decades. In the past, food and nutritional values were the most important factors accounting for human interest in wild asparagus. Currently these reasons have been superseded by social and symbolic motives. Today, wild asparagus is the most relevant wild edible plant for various types of users in the dehesa, while gathering events have become a remarkable social phenomenon. In this paper, we describe how wild asparagus is exploited by different users and offer an explanation for its R. Acosta-Naranjo (&) A. J. Guzma´n-Troncoso J. Go´mez-Melara University of Seville, Seville, Spain e-mail: [email protected]
continuing relevance in the dehesa agro-ecosystem, and its revalued importance for rural communities in southern Extremadura (Spain). Keywords Dehesa Asparagus Revaluation Gathering Agroforestry systems Ecosystem services Spain
Introduction The importance of the Iberian dehesa, one of the world’s exemplary high diversity agroforestry systems, is well known, as are assessments of the numerous and varied threats to its integrity (PintoCorreia et al. 2011; Moreno et al. 2016; Joffre et al. 1999). The combination of agricultural, livestock and forestry production in the Iberian dehesa and their relative importance have changed over time (Guzma´n 2016; Linares 2012). This agroforestry system displays a high flexibility that has allowed it to adapt and survive over the centuries (Acosta-Naranjo et al. 2002). The environmental and cultural services of this system are once again shifting and acquiring new relevance, bringing forth new and alternative uses and meanings, including those associated with wild asparagus gathering (Ferraz-de-Oliveira et al. 2016;
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Gaspar et al. 2007; Surova´ et al. 2011; Fagerholm et al. 2016). Although studies from several disciplines have addressed the dehesa, on most occasions
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