The role and importance of a built structure are closely related to the surrounding area, with interest in a given area having a concomitant effect on the relevance given to the constructions it may hold. Heritage interest in landscape areas has grown in recent times leading to a sound valorisation process. This connects with the recent concept of biological cultural heritage (BCH), or biocultural heritage (definition still in process), that can be understood as domesticated landscapes resulting from long-term biological and social relationships. Although pastoral enclosures (in large part dry-stone walling, whose construction has been recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2018) arise as traditional rural constructions linked with a way of life already disappearing, engaged local communities are recovering their biocultural value in terms of identity and positive conservation outcomes. In this sense, this article focuses on valuing traditional stone-built pastoral enclosures in two locations on the Atlantic coast of western Europe: Frojám (NW Iberian Peninsula) and Ladydown Moor (SW England). Findings concerning plant communities related to current or ancient pastoralism, and artefacts of built heritage are described, and an emphasis is placed on community engagement as a mechanism for conservation. The resilience of species-rich grassland communities is identified as a manifestation of biocultural heritage and an opportunity for habitat restoration. Finally, current trends and improvements in understanding of biological heritage and community conservation are addressed.

Researchers, planners, and decision makers admit the need to take into account the social conflicts inherent to invasive species management in order to minimize controversy. These conflicts are mainly based on differences in values systems, thus causing antithetical policies in environmental management. On the topic of Eucalyptus plantations, this paper studies two cases in Galicia, a region under an emerging social fight between advocates and opponents: firstly, we analyze a local community that is progressively eradicating Eucalyptus through the principles of ecological restoration; and secondly, a planning initiative led by a local government with a common goal. In order to set the spatial and social dimensions of the conflict, the methodological approach is based on the components of cognitive hierarchy theory and risk perception theory. The results are discussed with the purpose of examining to what extent the case studies imply a new model of rural governance, and in this respect, are transferrable to other situations. We conclude that institutional non-interference in Eucalyptus management facilitates the emergence of diverse new governance practices in the local scale but endures the conflict in its regional dimension.

La conflictividad vinculada a la gestión del eucalipto trasciende en Galicia su política forestal y abarca nuevos ámbitos sociales y políticos poco explorados en la academia. En tanto que ninguna especie de este género está catalogada en el Estado español como exótica invasora, numerosas instituciones se han articulado para incidir políticamente y revertir esta ausencia. Valiéndonos de este contexto, este trabajo examina los valores, actitudes y comportamientos políticos inherentes a la lucha institucional contra la eucaliptización. Concretamente examinamos, mediante las teorías jerárquica cognitiva y del análisis de discurso, 20 casos de corporaciones municipales que debaten su propia declaración municipal "libre de eucaliptos". Nuestro análisis revela que el ordinario contraste ideológico derecha-izquierda se reproduce en la estructura de valores ligados al eucalipto. En particular, las argumentaciones de contenido económico y social, más recurridas por parte de los ediles, adoptan un mayor protagonismo frente a las ecológicas y territoriales, minoritarias, y generan un aislamiento partidario que motiva la falta de consenso. Por todo ello, concluimos que solo una eventual devaluación monetaria del eucalipto motivaría un giro relevante de las posturas políticas. Asimismo, estimamos que la inclusión improvisada de debates partidistas acentúa la divergencia de intereses sectoriales en la gestión del eucalipto.

The expansion of eucalypt plantations constitutes a growing source of landscape transformation in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. In this context, forest planning has failed to design forestry policies that consider the demands of the population as a whole. Among other consequences, in 2018 a group of activists founded a volunteer programme aiming at collective action against the expansion of degraded forests. By 2022, over 100 actions had been performed, mostly involving eradications of eucalypt sprouts, and 1000 activists took part in such programmes. Through participatory action research, this work explores the nature and functioning of this programme and discusses in particular the socialisation of landscape management. The results reveal a slight prevalence of an urban public participating in rural areas, so that activism against eucalyptus expansion conforms a centripetal force in the creation of new networks of actors that transcend the rural–urban dichotomy. It is concluded that the studied case can be taken as a model for public institutions aiming to reinforce citizen participation in forest landscape plans.