SAC Research

PASTORAL’s fourth and final workshop was held in south-east France, 7th-9th December, 2002.

The workshop investigated the complex sheep systems of the Crau, an alluvial floodplain located to the east of Arles and the Camargue. The Crau’s natural habitat is steppe, which has been grazed by sheep since at least the Roman era. Pastoralism still plays an integral role in maintaining the area's ecosystem, which now holds a nationally unique assemblage of steppe birds including breeding populations of pintailed sandgrouse (Pterocles alcata) and the largest French populations of little bustards (Tetrax tetrax) and calandra larks (Melanocorypha calandra).  

The shepherds of the Crau practice transhumance and move their flocks by lorries to pastures in the Alps in June. In November, the sheep return to the Crau and graze the aftermath of haymeadows until March when they are moved to the steppe pastures and fallows. There are several types of shepherd in the Crau from those that own land to those that rent all their pastures.

 The three days of the PASTORAL workshop were dedicated to understanding the Crau’s complex sheep systems from an agricultural perspective, how they operate and the trends they are experiencing. We examined how different levels of agricultural and agri-environment policies (local, regional, national and EU) impact the operation of the sheep systems. In particular, whether they effectively support the sheep systems and achieve nature conservation objectives. 

*The workshop was jointly organised by the coordinators of PASTORAL, SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) and CEEP (Conservatoire Études des Écosystèms de Provence/Espaces Naturels de Provence). 

Workshop Presentations

• Ecological consequences of pastoral practices in the Crau (Axel Wolff)
• An introduction to sheep production in Crau (Sally Huband and Axel Wolff)
• Support received by sheep producers in the Crau (Patrick Fabre and Axel Wolff)
• La Crau: importance for conservation and description of its pastoral systems (Axel Wolff and Patrick Fabre)
• Impact des politiques agricole et agri-environmentales sur les systemes pastoraux de la Crau (Patrick Fabre)
• Proposed solutions for preserving nature value and sheep systems in the Crau (Axel Wolff and Patrick Fabre)
• Agri-environment schemes in Portugal - what future? (Luis Pinto de Andrade)
• The implementation of the dehesa conservation programme in Andalusia in Spain (Dolores Carbonero)
• Integration of beef production and landscape management in Sweden (Inger Pehrson)
• Pastoral grazing with sheep in the south of the Netherlands (Sjraar van Beek)
• Conservation objectives in the Crau (Axel Wolff)

To obtain a copy of any of these papers, please contact Davy McCracken.

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