Livestock demarcating livestock routes: a methodological proposal for enhancing transparency and legality in land management and linear infrastructure development

ABSTRACTThis paper proposes a comprehensive methodology for demarcating livestock routes to enhance transparency and legality in land management and linear infrastructure development. The lack of demarcation of these routes can lead to conflicts between individuals and the public domain, hindering plans proposed by the administrations. The University of Huelva has developed a methodology that includes specific phases, such as the interpretation of sketches, investigation of documentary collections, and topographic survey, leading to the generation of demarcation plans for livestock tracks. The use of new geographic information technologies allows for a digital representation of these routes, enabling their cataloging for better conservation and use. The innovative use of historical cartography and the latest in information and communication technologies not only allows for the exact demarcation of livestock routes but also provides a glimpse into their past and enables their protection and promotion as cultural and landscape assets. The demarcation of livestock routes can contribute to the development of linear infrastructure and land management programs, benefiting the environment and socioeconomic development.RÉSUMÉCet article propose une méthodologie complète pour la délimitation des parcours du bétail pour améliorer la transparence et la légalité dans la gestion des terres et le développement d'infrastructures linéaires. L'absence de délimitation de ces chemins peut aboutir à des conflits entre les particuliers et le domaine public, ce qui peut gêner les plans proposés par l'administration. L'université de Huelva a développé une méthodologie qui inclut des étapes spécifiques telles que l'interprétation des croquis, la recherche de collections documentaires, et les relevés topographiques, qui aboutit à la création de plans de délimitation des parcours du bétail. L'utilisation des nouvelles technologies de l'information géographique permet la représentation numérique de ces chemins, ce qui permet leur catalogage pour une meilleure conservation et utilisation. L'utilisation innovante de la cartographie historique et des dernières technologies de l'information et de la communication permet non seulement d'extraire les délimitations précises de ces parcours du bétail mais aussi donne un aperçu de leur passé et permet leur protection et leur promotion en tant que biens culturels et paysagers. La délimitation des parcours du bétail peut contribuer au développement des infrastructures linéaires et des programmes de gestion des terres au bénéfice de l'environnement et du développement socio-économique.KEYWORDS: Livestock route demarcationgeographic information technologiesland management and linear infrastructure AcknowledgementsWe would like to express our gratitude to the University of Huelva and the Consejería de Medio Ambiente, Junta de Andalucia for their support and funding for this research project. We also thank all the individuals and institutions who provided valuable insights and contributions to the development of this methodology. Lastly, we acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our team members, Moreno Cuesta, Gonzalez Algarra, Alvarez Segovia, and Zabalo Torrejon, for their tireless efforts in the completion of this study.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Data availability statementIn accordance with our commitment to transparency and reproducibility, all data used in this study have been deposited in the reputable data repository Figshare, with the DOI 10.6084/m9.figshare.22732757, ensuring accessibility and open access for the scientific community.Additional informationFundingRISE Project. Funding by European Union (European Regional Development Fund-FEDER).Notes on contributorsEduardo Moreno CuestaEduardo Moreno Cuesta an Associate Professor at the University of Huelva (Agroforestry Sciences), specializing in areas such as Remote Sensing, Environmental Impact Assessment, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). He has authored multiple publications, focusing on landscape characterization and evaluating new uses for cattle ways, among other topics.Encarnacion Gonzalez AlgarraEncarnación González Algarra is a Professor at the University of Huelva, specializing in Agroforestry Sciences. She holds the position of 'Profesor titular de Universidad' at the University of Huelva, Andalucia, Spain.Ezequiel Alvarez SegoviaEzequiel Alvarez Segovia Environmental Technician at the ‘Conserjeria de Medio Ambiente de la Junta de Andalucia', Spain.Alberto Zabalo TorrejonAlberto Zabalo Torrejon is a Professor at Universidad de Huelva, specializing in Agroforestry Sciences. He holds a Doctorate obtained in December 2006 and has been contributing to various research areas, including energy-efficient buildings, skills assessment in agricultural engineering, and satellite imagery applications in agriculture and development projects. His work spans multiple publications and collaborations with researchers in these fields.