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In
mountain
regions of
North and Centre of Portugal a variety
of permanent semi-natural
meadows exist, probably since the X or XI
century, which are called
“lameiros”. They are deeply
inter-related with the agro-systems that characterize the traditional
mountain
agriculture. They are mainly distributed above 700 meters of
altitude
with high
water availability, fertile soils and on variable ecological
conditions,
thus having a great cultural, landscaping and biodiversity
value.
The
“lameiros” have an interesting and ancestral wild
irrigation,
called “lima” irrigation, consisting of a fine
water film
that flows
constantly during
the winter, covering the entire soil surface. The process aims
for
thermal regulation
of both soil and vegetation, preventing or reducing the
freezing risks during the winter and spring seasons.
These
mountain
meadows are
usually classified by their water availability as irrigated meadows,
imperfect
irrigated meadows and non-irrigated meadows. |
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