Biodiversity in the area – scientific, economic and cultural importance
A man-made, semi-natural landscape
The biodiversity of man-made landscapes is often richer than that of wilderness areas, because the mosaic of habitats encourages species diversity. And their protection is more complex, since the interests of local human populations must be taken into account, and the continuation of traditional land management encouraged.
This low-input farming in a rich natural landscape provides an opportunity to study historical ecology by direct observation and is increasingly relevant in current economic conditions. In addition to the grassland and forest habitats and species, the villages themselves retain a rich genetic heritage of fruit trees, flowers, herbs, vegetables, and ancient medicinal plants. The grassland flora is also an important genetic resource for agriculture, being rich in forage crops such as sainfoin and clovers, and crop relatives such as wild members of the cabbage family.