Spatial analysis of the suitability of olive plantations for wildlife habitat restoration

This study adopts a two-fold methodological approach to assessing the suitability of olive plantations in mountainous areas for wildlife habitat restoration. Embedding expert judgements through an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) about the effect of specific elements of the landscape on ecological diversity permits the most suitable agricultural areas to be selected by means of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). The case study is the olive (Olea europaea L.) plantations of Andalusia (Southern Spain). The results suggest that the edge of major agricultural areas (mostly olive groves), and areas adjacent to Natural Park with oaks would be most suitable for wildlife habitat restoration. These results are in agreement with those of studies carried out by other researchers on ecological diversity, based on either individual or groups of species.