252 The Barcelona Region’s land mosaic
Numerous small farming areas and isolated fields across the region provide
stability for its future, but, since they exist at a finer scale, are not included
in this regional perspective and plan. Finally, within an agricultural landscape,
stream corridors, woods, hedgerows, and scattered shrubs and trees are of par-
ticular importance for nature and wildlife.Agriculture--nature parks
The present set of protected natural areas is overwhelmingly on moun-
tains or hills and designed for forest-dependent values. Therefore the rich nature
and biodiversity dependent on farmland, especially smaller fields and less inten-
sive agricultural practices (e.g., in the rapidly urbanizing Valles) have almost no
protection in the GBRegion. For example, a significant number of the European-
Community-listed rare migratory birds in the region are concentrated in succes-
sional habitats of valley farmland (Pinoet al.2000).
Agriculture--nature parksthat combine active farming and nature protection
appear to be the optimum long-term solution (Color Figure 42) (Forman 2004a).
Some portion of the farm fields would be maintained in designated successional
habitat types. Agriculture--nature parks are most appropriately located in valleys
adjacent to large protected natural areas or emeralds, where farm families and
themanagement expertise of conservation-park personnel could be combined
toenhance farm production and nature conservation on the parks. Seven pro-
posed agriculture--nature parks are dispersed across the region: (1) southern
boundary of Castelltallat; (2) valley east of Sant Quirze projecting into Serralada
Transversal; (3) valley east of Manlleu projecting into Serralada Transversal; (4) by
Tordera River north of Montnegre-El Corredor; (5) Eastern Valles on south side of
Montseny; (6) southwest of Igualada on northeast side of an expanded Ancosa-
Miralles protected area; and (7) southeast side of Penedes along an expanded
northwest side of the Garraf. Over time the agriculture--nature parks will become
major, but different, food-producing areas, further enhancing the economics and
stability of the Greater Barcelona Region.
In the important Lower Llobregat floodplain and delta a remarkable ‘‘agricul-
tural park” exists next to some protected wetlands, coastal vegetation, and unde-
veloped (without nearby buildings) coastline (Boada and Capdevila2000,Acebillo
and Folch2000). Market-gardening (truck farming) and family-food gardens pre-
dominate as the region’s primary orchard area for cherries, apples, etc., and a
major producer of artichokes and vegetables. A rather similar area exists in the
Lower Tordera River floodplain. Assuming a significant expansion of protected
wetland, coastal vegetation, and undeveloped coastline in each floodplain/delta
area, both areas seem appropriate as agriculture parks.