what are the ecosystem services of potential habitats, EspH?

"…The EA implements the NbS to the maximum, using EspH as a substitute for inputs, phytosanitary products and other products.…"

The ecosystem services of potential habitats (EspH) is based on the prior determination of potential habitats (PH). In the areas where agricultural crops are developed, habitats and habitat associations have been displaced by man, traditionally to enhance crops, and although there is a presence of some natural species alongside crops, these are no more than a mere resilient presence of adventitious species, and in the best of cases when it comes to shrub or tree species, most of them develop in marginal areas of crops, such as residual areas, abandoned or margins of roads and boundaries.

Although there are systems of organic agriculture, as well as traditional horticultural agriculture, which introduce together with their crops "autochthonous species" in a generic way to benefit from the ecosystem services they provide. These practices are very general and do not delve into the use of native species of the place, which are undoubtedly the best adapted to the climate and soils where their crops are grown.

The AE has developed its own methodology for determining PH, named Potential Habitat Farming (PHF) based on the codes of habitats and habitats associations listed in the European Habitats Directive.and through the European Reference Information Systems of Habitats of Community Interest, as well as an analysis of the landscape, edaphological and ombroclimatic units in the place.

After the determination of the PH. The species of these habitats are selected, which can offer us those services and goods that are most convenient for the crops developed.

As a practical example for a fruit tree crop whose PH among others is the Subhabitat: 422013 Ziziphetum loti * Rivas Goday & Bellot 1944:

It belongs to Habitat 5220 Arborescent Thickets of Ziziphus.

• Species:

• Black hawthorn: Rhamnus lycioides subsp. lycioides,

Main ecosystem services:

1. Auxiliary fauna refuge

2. Contribution of nectar and pollen

3. Nesting and bird food

4. Defensive barriers against herbivores

5. Capture of moisture and condensation on the stem

6. Contribution of organic matter and improvement of the soil

7. P and K solubilizing and nitrifying bacteria

• Asparagus: Asparagus albus L.

Main ecosystem services:

8. Auxiliary fauna refuge

9. Contribution of nectar and pollen

10. Nesting and bird food

11. Defensive barriers against herbivores

12. Capture of moisture and condensation on the stem

13. Contribution of organic matter and soil improvement

14. P and K solubilizing and nitrifying bacteria

• Canillo: Ephedra fragilis:

Main ecosystem services:

1. Auxiliary fauna refuge

2. Contribution of nectar

3. Capture of moisture and condensation on the stem

4. Creation of hedges (shade and protection)

5. Contribution of organic matter and improvement of the soil

6. P, and K solubilizing bacteria

7. Phytosanitary and biostimulant active ingredients:

...among many others...

All the ecosystem services offered by potential habitats will be selected, detailed and calculated, depending on the nutritional and physiotherapist needs or other conditioning factors (extraction of salts from the soil through management of euhalophyte and locahalophyte species, use of sclerophyllous species against browsing, etc.), through the EcosystemIc Management Plan (EMP).