%0 Research article
%T Optimal management of Pinus radiata silvopastoral systems established on abandoned agricultural land in Galicia (north-western Spain)
%A Pasalodos-Tato, María
%A Pukkala, Timo
%A Rigueiro-Rodríguez, Antonio
%A Fernández-Nunez, Esther
%A Mosquera-Losada, María Rosa
%D 2009
%J Silva Fennica
%V 43
%N 5
%R doi:10.14214/sf.176
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/176
%X Timber production has been the main objective in forest production in  Galicia for a long time. Nevertheless, factors such as fire risk and the  need to obtain non-timber benefits make other production alternatives  like silvopastoral systems worth of consideration. Integration of  grazing in the production system not only diversifies products and  benefits, but also decreases fire risk by enhancing fuel control.  Nonetheless, few studies have examined the economic profitability of  these systems. This article analyses the economics of silvopastoral  systems established on abandoned agricultural soils afforested with  Pinus radiata D. Don. Different tree planting densities, discounting  rates, grass values and fire risk scenarios were analysed. The technique  employed is based on the combination of an optimization algorithm and a  simulator of stand growth and grass yield. The most profitable  schedules were obtained with initial stand densities of 1500 trees per  hectare. However, with high unit values of pasture production (high  value of grass), schedules with an initial stand density of 500 trees  per hectare were the most profitable. When the risk of fire was included  in the analyses, silvopastoral systems were always more profitable than  timber production systems. With an assumption that grazing reduces fire  risk thinnings should be done earlier and heavier to reduce the  expected losses due to fire and to promote grass production. This  lengthens the pasture period. In general, rotation lengt