What is the importance of animal production in the development of the rural area? This subject was discussed at the International Symposium organised by EAAP, FAO, CIHEAM and SNFEZ-EZN in Portugal. The subjects covered in this publication are: management systems and types of animal production; environment and landscape; animal contribution to leisure, fairs, handicraft and iconography; organisation and evaluation of resources. Animal production points out to be of importance to diversify the rural landscape, to promote the rural tourism and to allow the settlement of population in rural areas.