Naslov
Reversing the Effectsof Uncontrolled Grazing on Croatian Rangelands in the Mediterranean Zone

Autori
Rogošić, Jozo ; Norton, B. ; Pfister, J.A.

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u zbornicima skupova, cjeloviti rad (in extenso), znanstveni

Izvornik
54th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management : proceedings / - : Society for Range Management, 2001, 133-138

Skup
Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management (54 ; 2001)

Mjesto i datum
Kailua-Kona (HI), Sjedinjene Američke Države, 17.02.2001. - 23.02.2001

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
Croatia; communal grazing

Sažetak
11. Rangelands dominate the landscape of the Mediterranean part of Croatia along the Adriatic coastline, occupying 83% of the agricultural land, or 1.7 million ha. Only 15% of grazing land is privately owned. The remainder was communal land under the socialist government, and today remains in a limbo status in which the government assumes responsibility but does not exercise management. Prior to Croatian independence from Yugoslavia in 1992, rural households farmed a few ha and owned some pastures, but livestock production relied on access to communal land which was attached to the village. The right of access to the grazing commons was restricted to households registered in the village, but there was no restriction on the number of animals each household could graze on the commons, nor on the season of use. Herders took their animals to communal pasture as soon as green growth appeared in spring and kept them there until forage resources were exhausted. This uncontrolled use of rangelands continues today. Continuous grazing begun too early in the growing season has caused substantial rangeland degradation and a decline from potential productivity. Croatian government policy now favours the development of grazing plans which will reverse environmental degradation and increase the overall carrying capacity of rangeland resources. The strategy is to rely on the institution of a controlled grazing system in which priority is given to restricting grazing pressure in the early spring, improving animal distribution and introducing rotational grazing practices. The more difficult task is to regulate animal numbers.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija

POVEZANOST RADA