livestock route
Introduction
The livestock routes or "cabañeras" are transhumance paths that link the traditional grazing places of Spain so that shepherds and ranchers can take goats, sheep and cattle to the best pastures, taking advantage of the good climate: to ports or areas of high mountain pastures in summer or to flatter areas with a more temperate climate in extreme winters. The livestock trails differ from each other and acquire their name according to their width.
Furthermore, livestock trails are great biological sources since various types of vegetation grow there and are the habitat of different animal species. On the other hand, they are communication channels, flat and straight routes that are nestled between the mountains, facilitating passage between towns since they are the shortest and easiest paths to travel.
Livestock routes represent some 125,000 km of routes for transhumance in Spain, 1% of its territory, some 450,000 hectares. Legally, in Spain, livestock trails are public domain assets whose ownership is exercised by the autonomous communities, this legal protection being what makes them unique in Europe.
Its basic legal regime in Spain is currently regulated by Law 3/95 on livestock routes, which defines livestock routes as routes or itineraries along which livestock transit runs or has traditionally run. Livestock traffic associated with livestock routes can be:
In article 3.1.d of Law 3/1995 on the actions of the autonomous communities, one of the purposes established by said law is found: Ensure the adequate conservation of livestock trails, as well as other environmental or culturally valuable elements, directly linked to them, through the adoption of the necessary protection and restoration measures.
However, on numerous occasions the legal framework is not respected and livestock trails become paved or urbanized roads. Among the environmental consequences that occur when developing a livestock route are the increase in intentional fires, the loss of vegetation and biodiversity, the appearance of improvised landfills, the contamination of the subsoil with domestic water and the loss of public heritage that passes illegally to a few people. Livestock routes in the urban growth areas of cities and towns are on the verge of disappearing, unless strong legal measures are taken to prevent it.
This is the case presented in 2005 by the El Taller Verde de Marchena association, in Seville. In their JARDA newsletter they announced the problem of the Cañada Real de Pruna, an example of occupation and contamination of a livestock route described by them as an "attack on the environment."