UNHIDE Agroforestry booklet 2025.09.22 - Flipbook - Page 38
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At
Bekas Family/Nature Demonstration Farm: Silvopasture, Latvia
ed in the days of pre-industrial agriculture are an
important example of how agriculture can have a
positive effect on biodiversity. The grazing and
mowing that is now used to manage these meadows he refers to as “biodiversity farming”. “Our
Scottish highland cattle eat more than at least 200
different species of plants in their daily diet, so
the meat that we produce is unique in terms of its
origin”.
The fact that the restoration measurements also
included the removal of a beaver dam, sparked
the group’s curiosity and resulted in discussions,
on the Swedish side, about the coexistence of
agroforestry and rewilding. In Latvia the beaver
population is considered to be too big (maybe
explaining why we were treated to beaver meat
at the end of the week) and to cause significant
problems, such as flooding and damage to trees.
At Bekas they are seen as a threat to the rare oak
Sid 9-10
habitats and to migrating fish. But, as beavers are
famous key species, playing a crucial role to their
ecosystem, we assume this solution is also due to the
beavers negatively influencing the water dynamics,
hindering access to valuable pastures.
HISTORICALLY, INUNDATION,
WATERLOGGING, UNEVEN
TERRAIN AND EXTREMELY
DRY AREAS MADE THIS SITE
UNSUITABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE.
Still today, sandy soils and regular inundation and
droughts contribute to the fact that there isn’t enough
