Arid and semiarid rangelands: production, diversity and global change
This paper comprises some general issues about the natural and agricultural context in arid and semiarid Mediterranean pastures. We include most of our studies concerning to shrublands characteristics: composition, production and diversity; which have been developed in the oriental sector of Andalusia for more than 20 years. This work is concluded with some personal considerations about the changes in the land uses, mainly due to rural abandonment, and its incidence in the global change.