Abstract
Mountains pose a major challenge for conservation, as they tend to harbour high levels of biodiversity and cultural landscapes of great interest linked to traditional and community-based practices. In this context, the irrigation channel system in the Sierra Nevada Biosphere Reserve (Spain) is a prime example of hydraulic infrastructure that integrates ecological, productive and cultural functions at the landscape scale. The aim of this study is to analyse how five socio-ecological scenarios arising from rural depopulation and current socio-economic changes influence the multifunctionality of the landscapes associated with these irrigation channels. To this end, a literature review and a qualitative analysis were carried out to assess the effects that the scenarios ‘Agricultural Intensification’, ‘Agrosystems based on traditional knowledge’, ‘Strict Conservation’, ‘Ecotourism’ and ‘Sports Tourism’ would have on the ecosystem services associated with the irrigation channel system, should these scenarios come to dominate the area.The results suggest that irrigation channels are a central pillar of the socio-ecological system, as they support services such as water regulation, soil fertility, food production, habitat conservation and a sense of belonging to the land. The ‘Agrosystems based on traditional knowledge’ scenario best preserves the multifunctionality of the landscape, although it may need to be combined with responsible ecotourism activities to ensure people’s livelihoods. In contrast, ‘Agricultural intensification’, ‘Strict conservation’ and ‘Sports tourism’ – which make little or no contribution to the maintenance of the irrigation channels – seriously compromise this multifunctionality. This analysis highlights the importance of developing conservation approaches that take into account the complexity of socio-ecological systems, which is key to integrating biodiversity, human well-being and social justice. Innovative instruments, such as payments for environmental services, can support this process by highlighting the disparities between those who maintain the landscapes and those who benefit from them.