Spain’s Agricultural Landscapes: A Regional Overview
Atlantic Agricultural Landscape (Wet Spain)
Location
Northern and northwestern Iberian Peninsula, 20% of Spanish territory.
Natural Factors
Mountainous terrain, Atlantic climate, deciduous forests, and grasslands (70% of the surface).
Settlement
Widely dispersed. Historically, low farm incomes led to emigration, resulting in an aging population. Small, dispersed landholdings (smallholders) hinder profitability and mechanization. Land consolidation initiatives aim to address this.
Land Use
Agriculture
Occupies a moderate area. Coastal fields in valley bottoms benefit from regular rainfall.
- Past: Isolated polyculture for subsistence. Home gardens provided horticultural crops (maize, potatoes, fruit trees, vines). Barley or rye grown on poorer land. Limited market sales.
- Present: Specialization in market gardening and fodder crops (pasture, alfalfa, clover, forage maize). Polyculture declining.
Livestock
The most important economic activity, driven by climate, demand for milk and meat, and rural exodus.
- Galicia: Small to medium-sized family farms.
- Cantabrian Coast: Modernized farms.
- Future: Dependence on EU dairy quotas poses challenges.
Logging supports furniture and pulp industries.
Mediterranean Agricultural Landscape (Interior Spain)
Location
Uplands and Ebro Depression (50% of mainland Spain).
Natural Factors
High altitude, Mediterranean climate with low rainfall, summer frosts in the north.
Settlement
Migration and depopulation. Concentrated settlements in valleys, with large distances between them. Smallholdings in the Duero and Ebro valleys contrast with large irrigated properties in Salamanca, Burgos, Aragón, and Extremadura.
Land Use
Agriculture (44% of surface)
- Dryland: Dominant in plateaus and Ebro Valley. Traditional “Mediterranean triad” (cereals, vines, olives).
- Past: Extensive agriculture with fallow periods, transhumance, and sheep grazing.
- Present: Barley and sunflower replacing wheat. Modernization through irrigation and fertilizers. Cereal dominance in Castile and León; olive groves and vineyards in Aragón, Extremadura, Castile-La Mancha; vineyards in Rioja and Navarra.
- Irrigation: More intensive.
- Past: River valleys and near towns, producing vegetables for local use.
- Present: Expansion due to reservoirs, enabling diverse production (industrial crops, fodder, fruits, vegetables).
Livestock
Important in certain areas.
- Castile and Ebro Basin: Sheep farming.
- Castile and León: Increased feedlot cattle (milk) and pig farming.
- Extremadura: Extensive pasture, extending to Salamanca and Zamora.
Strong beef production. Some areas dedicated to mechanized agriculture and hunting.
Logging prominent in the Soria pine forests.
Coastal Mediterranean Agricultural Landscape
Location
Guadalquivir Valley to Sierra Morena and Balearic Islands.
Natural Factors
Rugged terrain, coastal Mediterranean climate with low summer rainfall.
Settlement
Varied settlement patterns: dispersed farms associated with orchards, concentrated farms, and transitional forms between isolated houses and small settlements.
Land Use
Agriculture
- Irrigation: Favored by mild temperatures, sunlight, topography, and suitable soils. Early outdoor gardening under plastic, Mediterranean and tropical fruit orchards in Andalusian basins.
- Dryland: Guadalquivir Valley plains and pre-coastal mountainous areas. Cereals, grapes, olives, and almonds.
Livestock
Cattle and pigs in Catalonia; sheep and goats in dry areas; wild bulls along the Guadalquivir banks.
Mountain Agricultural Landscape
Location/Natural Factors
Extreme conditions: high relief, steep slopes, cold winters, abundant precipitation (including snow). Similar to Atlantic Spain.
Settlement
Low population density and depopulation. Scattered settlements in valleys and towns. Smallholdings in enclosed areas. Communal mountain pastures and meadows.
Land Use
Shift from traditional land use towards tourism and other sports.
Agriculture
Northern mountains: Orchards in deep valleys. Southeast: Terraced crops (almonds, olives).
Livestock
Extensive grazing. Northern mountains: Cattle or sheep in forests, thickets, and meadows. Mediterranean mountains: Local transhumance of sheep between valleys and peaks.
Logging for fuelwood and timber.
Canary Islands Agricultural Landscape
Location/Natural Factors
Rugged volcanic terrain, warm climate year-round, low and erratic rainfall in lowlands.
Settlement
Declining rural population due to growth in the tertiary sector (tourism).
Land Use
Limited cultivated area due to water scarcity and quality issues.
Agriculture
- Coastal Areas: Export-oriented monoculture (bananas, tomatoes, early potatoes), crops under plastic (cucumbers, peppers, flowers), and new tropical plantings (papaya, mango, pineapple, avocado).
- Mid- and Upper Inland Areas: Traditional rainfed agriculture for local consumption (potatoes, vines). Wheat cultivation declining.
Livestock
Scarce sheep and goat farming, associated with agriculture.
Logging of pine, heather, and laurisilva for charcoal, construction, and crop supports.