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Ministère de l'Aménagement du Territoire et de l'Environnement, St Martin d'Hères, 18-19 octobre 2000

National audience; For assessing livestock farming diversity and land use sustainability, a farms exhaustive survey was undergone in 1992 in two contrasted valleys of the Pyrknées (Couserans). In this paper we study the diversity of livestock farming practices (herd management, forage systems) and its relationships with farm spatial structures. The observation of the suckling herds management patterns demonstrates that two main tendencies are under progress. Most of the forage systems, especially in the farms run by young farmers, are based on the use of the different grazing resource types, in relation with the use of a local hardy breed. Some farmers changed for meat breeds, that led them to abandon grazing on summer altitude pastures. A large part of the older farmers without successor abandon. the most difficult parts of the territory, while the younger farmers are keen to go on with a more complete use of the difficult private land and collective resource. But they often have to increase their farm size because of economic pressure, that in turn lead them to abandon difficult land when workmg power limitations rise. Agri-environmental policy is urgent to reinforce in order to help them maintain management systems and land use pratices more friendly for resource sustainability and landscape preservation.

International audience; For assessing livestock farming diversity and land use sustainability in the Central Pyrenees mountains, a farms exhaustive survey was undergone in 1992 in two contrasted valleys of the Pyrénées (Couserans). The survey method is based on a questionnaire, and on the drawing with the farmer of a map of the fields and the livestock housing buildings using an aerial photography. The processing of the data is based on thematic typologies about the farms spatial organisation on the one hand and about the farming practices on the other hand. This paper deals with the diversity of the spatial organisation of the farms. The characterisation of the land units (SAU) and livestock housing spatial distribution patterns points an out important diversity in farming conditions, independently of the fami size. The different types obtained can be considered as reflecting different land use strategies, linked to the family situation-of the farmers.

International audience

International audience