La economía de la dehesa y el desarrollo rural. La Sierra Morena sevillana

Abstract

A long term strategy for development in a rural district located in Sierra Morena (Andalucía, Spain) is suggested. In this Mediterranean area, a great ecological, social and landscape diversity represents a «meeting point» among rural development politics, natural resources management and the economic activity of its population. The economic and social structure is still very traditional, where animal production (specially extensive pig production, with sheep, cattle and goats), olive growing and other forest resources such as hunting and cork industry are very important. There, large scale land ownership coexists with an important conservation area. Public policies and investment have a main influence in socio-economic dynamics of the population, who struggles among the necessary economic growth, the improvement of the quality of life and the conservation of those ecosystems that give this territory its originality and the best opportunities for the future.