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Vegetation Cover

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The Environment in Galicia: A Book of Images

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Abstract

Galicia is a complex territory from the environmental (lithology, relief, climate) and socio-economic (population, distribution of productive activities) perspectives. Its geographical position has determined its paleoenvironmental dynamics throughout the last glacial cycle (Würm), in whose final phase a large part of the territory was under glacio-nival conditions, and has favored the emergence of favorable conditions for the domain of deciduous forests throughout the last two thirds of the Holocene. However, as a result of human colonization of most of this territory over the last 5,000 years, its vegetation cover has been greatly homogenized, first favoring the expansion of agricultural crops and scrublands (particularly heaths) and, already in recent times, forest plantations with introduced species (pines and Eucalyptus). The best examples of the characteristic vegetation of this territory take refuge in the steepest mountains, certain slightly altered coastal stretches, and some wetlands. Nonetheless, Galicia still harbors important elements (species, habitats) for the maintenance of biodiversity on a European scale. Its long-term persistence requires territorial planning and management of land use consistent with this singularity and in line with the evolving scientific knowledge and environmental regulations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Production and Engineering Projects, Higher Polytechnic School of Engineering, Campus Terra, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002, Lugo, Galicia, Spain

    Manuel Antonio Rodríguez-Guitián

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  1. Manuel Antonio Rodríguez-Guitián
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Correspondence to Manuel Antonio Rodríguez-Guitián .

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  1. Engineering Polytechnic School, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain

    Avelino Núñez-Delgado

  2. Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain

    Esperanza Álvarez-Rodríguez

  3. Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry Area, Faculty of Sciences, Universidade de Vigo, Ourense, Spain

    David Fernández-Calviño

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Rodríguez-Guitián, M.A. (2023). Vegetation Cover. In: Núñez-Delgado, A., Álvarez-Rodríguez, E., Fernández-Calviño, D. (eds) The Environment in Galicia: A Book of Images. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-33114-5_23

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