Description:
<jats:p>A large forest estate in Algarve, southern Portugal. The author describes a herdade, i.e. a large estate, situated in the hilly schist district of Algarve. As many others, this herdade is devoted to forests rather than to agriculture and it seems to be poorly managed. The survey of its activities enlightens a process of extensification : there is a decrease in employment, dry crop cultures are abandoned, many tree plantations are left without enough care, and irrigated crops cover a small acreage only if compared with the total surface.</jats:p>