Silvopastoral systems of Meso America and Northern South America

This book offers an overview of the most important research and developments in silvopastoral systems of the northern part of South America and Central America, including the most common silvopastoral arrangements in each country and their characteristics in terms of productivity, and environmental and socioeconomic aspects. Featuring a compilation of original research articles, country overviews and reviews of the contribution of silvopastoral systems to different topics, it summarizes the state-of-the-art knowledge regarding various aspects of silvopastoral systems in this region. Preface Acknowledgements Contents About the Editors Chapter 1: Sustainable Silvopastoral Systems: Basic Design and Management Considerations 1.1 Introduction 1.2 The Basics of Silvopastoral Design 1.3 Exploiting Spatial and Temporal Heterogeneity to Enhance System Performance 1.4 Perennialism: Managing Resource Competition and Maximizing Complementarity 1.5 Structural and Functional Diversity Leading to Improved Resource Utilization 1.6 Disturbance: The Fundamentals of Management 1.7 Conclusions References Chapter 2: Silvopastoral Systems and Their Role in Climate Change Mitigation and Nationally Determined Contributions in Latin America 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Silvopastoral Systems and Mitigation of Climate Change 2.2.1 Reduction in the Emissions of Greenhouse Gases 2.2.2 Modification of Manure and Soil Gas Fluxes 2.2.3 Increase in Carbon Reservoirs and Carbon Stocks 2.2.4 Increased Animal Productivity and the Possibility of Higher Economic Income 2.3 iNDCs in Latin America 2.3.1 Current Status of the SPSs Within the GHG Inventories 2.3.2 Use of SPSs as Tools to Achieve NDCs and Constraints to Their Scaling Up 2.4 Final Considerations References Chapter 3: Silvopastoral Systems: A Pathway to Scale-Up Restoration in Colombia 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Colombia’s Restoration Challenges 3.3 Colombia’s Need for Sustainable Intensification 3.4 Silvopastoral Systems 3.4.1 Silvopastoral Systems for Landscape Restoration at Multiple Scales 3.4.2 SPS Projects in Colombia 3.4.2.1 The Regional Integrated Silvopastoral Ecosystem Management (RISEM) Project 3.4.2.2 Case Study: Permanence of Land Cover Changes in Four RISEM Farms 3.4.2.3 The Mainstreaming Sustainable Cattle Ranching (MSCR) Project 3.5 Mainstreaming SPS into National Restoration Efforts: The Way Forward References Chapter 4: Could Biomass Revolution Be Achieved with Silvopastoral Systems? 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Biomass Is the Primary Source of Nutrients for Cattle Production in the World 4.3 Biomass Is Feed and Food 4.4 Biomass Production and Circular Food Systems 4.5 The Use of Biomass as Organic Fertilizer 4.6 Biomass & Energy 4.7 Biomass and Silvopastoral Systems 4.8 Conclusions References Chapter 5: Effect of Silvopastoral Systems on Biodiversity and the Provision of Environmental Services in Tropical Agro-Landscapes 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Effects on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Associated with Different Silvopastoral Arrangements 5.2.1 Live Fences 5.2.2 Scattered Trees in Paddocks 5.2.3 Intensive Silvopastoral Systems 5.3 Emerging Patterns 5.3.1 Structural Complexity as an Important Mechanism of the Effects 5.3.2 The Importance of Management Practices at the Farm Level 5.3.3 Silvopastoral Systems as Novel Ecosystems 5.3.4 The Importance of Forest Remnants 5.4 Strategies for Assessing the Conservation Value of Agroforestry Systems 5.5 Conclusions References Chapter 6: Silvopastoral Systems as an Alternative of Dairy Cattle Production in Tropical Pastures 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Forage Species: Shade Tolerance and Technological Level of the System 6.3 Nutritional Value of Forage 6.4 Shading and Animal Comfort 6.5 Dairy Cattle Performance in Silvopastoral Systems 6.6 Product Diversification and Increased Dairy Farm Income 6.7 Final Remarks References Chapter 7: Silvopastoral Systems in Paraguay 7.1 Introduction 7.1.1 Eastern Region 7.1.2 Western Region 7.1.3 Regulatory Framework 7.2 Main Silvopastoral Arrangements by Region 7.2.1 PAYCO (Paraguay Agricultural Corporation) 7.3 Silvopastoral Experiences of Livestock Production in the Dry Chaco of Paraguay 7.4 Cases Studies 7.4.1 Silvopastoral Systems with a Community Approach 7.5 Final Thoughts References Chapter 8: Development of Silvopastoral Systems in the Peruvian Amazon 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Characteristics of the Peruvian Amazon 8.3 SPS Technology Available in the Peruvian Amazon 8.3.1 Loreto 8.3.2 Ucayali 8.3.3 Madre de Dios 8.3.4 San Martin 8.3.5 Amazonas 8.4 Barriers for Implementation of SPS Practices 8.4.1 Technology 8.4.2 Training 8.4.3 Incentives 8.4.4 Planning and Policies 8.4.5 Environmental Conditions 8.5 Initiatives of the Peruvian Government to Promote SPS 8.6 Conclusions References Chapter 9: Silvopastoral Systems in Colombia: From Pilot Farms to NDCs 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Pilot Farms 9.3 Integrated Silvopastoral Approaches to Ecosystem Management Project 9.4 The Mainstreaming Sustainable Cattle Ranching (MSCR) Project 9.5 Silvopastoral Systems Promoted in the Project 9.5.1 Scattered Trees in Pastures 9.5.2 Live Fences and Windbreaks 9.5.3 Intensive Silvopastoral System (iSPS) 9.5.4 Fodder Hedgerows 9.5.5 Mixed Fodder Banks 9.5.6 Mature and Secondary Forests 9.6 Effect of Silvopastoral Systems Promoted on Biodiversity 9.7 Effect of Silvopastoral Systems on Farm Productivity 9.8 Colombian NAMA of Sustainable Bovine Livestock 9.9 Conclusions References Chapter 10: Agro-Silvopastoral Systems for the Andean-Amazonian Foothills of Colombia 10.1 Introduction 10.2 The Context of the Andean-Amazon Piedmont Region 10.3 Cattle Ranching in the Andean-Amazon Piedmont in the Department of Caqueta 10.3.1 Evolution of Cattle Ranching in the Amazonian Foothills 10.3.2 Livestock Production in the Andean-Amazon Piedmont in Caqueta 10.4 Approach to the Intervention of Alternatives for the Sustainability of Livestock Landscapes 10.4.1 Alternatives for the Sustainability of Livestock Landscapes 10.4.2 Productive, Social and Environmental Contributions of Agrosilvopastoral Systems 10.4.3 Barriers to Adoption and Strategies for Scaling Up Sustainable Alternatives Annexes Annex 1. Species Used in Silvopastoral Systems and Their Different Uses References Chapter 11: Agroecological Transition for Sustainable Cattle Ranching with Silvopastoral Systems in the High Andean Slopes of Colombia 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Silvopastoral Systems (SPS): An Agroecological Option for Livestock Sustainability on High Andean Slopes 11.2.1 General Information on Sustainable Livestock Farming with SPS and Agroecological Principles on High Andean Slopes 11.2.2 Benefits of SPS in Mountain Areas 11.3 El Silencio Nature Reserve: A Case Study of Agroecological Transition and Sustainable Livestock Production on High Andean Slopes in Colombia 11.3.1 Location and Description of the Farm 11.3.2 Analysis of the SPS Agroecological Transition in El Silencio Nature Reserve 11.3.3 Changes in Land Use and Management Practices in the Agroecological Transition Process 11.3.3.1 Land Use 11.3.3.2 Evolution of Land Use Changes in El Silencio Nature Reserve Between 2006 and 2021, and Their Effects on the Livestock Inventory and Milk Production 11.3.3.3 Paddock Rotation and Supplementation of Cows in Production 11.3.3.4 Input Reduction 11.3.4 Sustainability Indicators 11.3.4.1 Technical and Economic Viability of the Production System 11.3.4.2 Environmental Feasibility of the Production System 11.4 Conclusions References Chapter 12: Silvopastoral Systems with Native Tree Species in Venezuela 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Plants with Fodder Potential in Venezuela 12.2.1 Plants with Fodder Potential in the Venezuelan Central Llanos 12.2.2 Trees and Woody Shrubs with Potential as Fodder in the Forests of the Western High Plains 12.2.3 Plants with Fodder Potential in Northwestern Venezuela, Zulia and Trujillo States 12.2.4 The Fodder Potential in Arid and Semi-arid Zones of Northern Venezuela 12.3 Main Silvopastoral Systems of Venezuela 12.3.1 Scattered Trees in Pastures 12.3.2 Alternate Strips with Alleys 12.3.3 Cattle Grazing in Forestry Plantations 12.3.4 Living Fences 12.4 The Silvopastoral Experience at Fundacion Empresas Polar and Fundacion Danac 12.4.1 Silvopastoral Systems of the Integral Farm of Sustainable Tropical Agriculture 12.4.2 Cattle Production 12.4.3 Environmental Benefits 12.4.4 Biological Corridors References Chapter 13: Silvopasture in Panama: An Overview of Research and Practice 13.1 Introduction 13.2 History of Ranching and Land Use in Panama 13.3 Adoption of Silvopasture in Panama 13.4 Responding to Crisis: Climate Change and Livestock Production in Panama 13.5 Silvopasture Research in Panama 13.6 Applied Silvopasture in Panama 13.7 Conclusion References Chapter 14: Increasing Biodiversity in Livestock Production Systems: Plant Traits and Natural Regeneration Capacity of Woody Vegetation in Actively Managed Grasslands 14.1 Introduction 14.2 Methodology 14.2.1 Population Structure of Woody Plant Species in Active Pastures Within Silvopastoral Systems Containing Dispersed Trees 14.2.2 Morphology of Woody Species in Pastures Under Active Cattle Grazing 14.2.3 Statistical Analyses 14.3 Results 14.3.1 Morphology of Woody Plant Species in Actively Grazed Pastures Within Silvopastoral Systems with Dispersed Trees 14.3.2 Abundance of Woody Natural Regeneration and Dispersal Modes in Silvopastoral Systems with Dispersed Trees 14.4 Discussion 14.4.1 Dispersal, Leaf and Whole Plant Traits Were Correlated with the Abundance of Woody Plant Natural Regeneration in Managed Grasslands 14.5 Conclusions References Chapter 15: Sexual Reproduction in Tithonia diversifolia and the Implications for Its Use in Intensive Silvopastoral Systems 15.1 Introduction 15.2 Relevant Aspects of the Use of Tithonia diversifolia 15.3 Incompatibility System and Pollinators in Tithonia diversifolia 15.3.1 Study Species 15.3.2 Field Sampling and Study Site 15.3.3 Hand-Pollination Experiments 15.3.4 Pollinators 15.4 Results 15.4.1 Hand-Pollination Experiments 15.4.2 Visitation Rate of Pollinators 15.5 Implications of Tithonia diversifolia Reproductive System in the Implementation of ISPS References Chapter 16: Silvopastoral Systems with Leucaena leucocephala and Tithonia diversifolia in Cuba 16.1 Introduction 16.2 Leucaena 16.2.1 Evaluation of Ecotypes and Varieties 16.2.2 Seed Production 16.2.3 Agronomical Practices 16.2.4 Leucaena and Rumen Physiology 16.2.5 Animal Production 16.2.5.1 Biomass Production 16.2.5.2 Dairy Cows 16.2.5.3 Fattening 16.2.6 Environmental Benefits 16.2.7 Impact on Production Systems 16.3 Tithonia 16.3.1 Plant Material Evaluation 16.3.2 Seed 16.3.3 Evaluation of Nutritional Potential 16.3.4 Agronomical Practices and Biomass Production 16.3.5 Animal Production 16.3.6 Associated Entomofauna 16.4 Conclusions References Index