Publication Date
1993
Description
During the past 5 decades, the rate of tropical forest conversion has accelerated in response to economic pressures, population growth, technological development, and prpgrammes and incentives to open land for development. Deforestation rates rose substantially through the I 980s, and were highest in Africa ( 1.7% ), followed by Asia (1.4%) and Latin America (0.9%). The greatest extent of deforestation, however, was In Latin America, especially in the Amazon, where much of the deforestation was for pasture-based cattle development. Although forest conversion for ranching has been routinely criticised because of the ecological and socioeconomic implications associated with it, cattle herds continue to grow owing to socioeconomic and political pressures. Deforestation for pasture has been criticised from the ecological point of view because ( 1) large amounts of carbon are liberated to the atmosphere in the form of CO2 and other gases; (2) pastures are fire-prone ecosystems and this may lead to desertification; (3) pastures cause local and regional impact on biodiversity; and ( 4) they are associated with local and global climate change. Agrotechnically, pastures afler deforestation are criticised for their low agronomic stability which leads to pasture degradation owing to weed encroachment. Socioeconomically, criticism comes from their low levels of economic and social returns per unit of area, natural resources and capital. Pasture research and development experiences in forested lands, especially in Latin America, indicate that: (1) desertification owing to deforestation for pasture is more a myth than a reality and lacks scientific support; (2) by controlling interrelated environmental and technological factors causing pasture degradation, ii is possible to obtain agrotechnically sustainable pastures; (3) relatively shallow-rooted, drought-sensitive pasture ecosystems have lower annual evapotranspiration than the forest ecosystem and may lead lo decline In regional rainfall; (4) pasture-based cattle ranching may be profitable relative to immediate economic values If appropriate pasture management measures are taken. While pasture-based ranching on deforested lands may often be economic In the medium and long term, there are ecological costs involved. Societal costs associated with nutrient loss, CO2 release, increased fire danger, changes in regional climate and loss of biodiversity could exceed US$5000/ha. Cattle ranching should be developed on already deforested lands and, in the medium and long term, the unsustainable extensive ranching models should gradually be transformed into more sustainable semi-intensive beef cattle models, semi-intensive dual-purpose cattle ranching models, and intensive agrosilvipastoral models. Research plays a critical role in this context.
Citation
Adilson Serrao, E; Uhl, C; and Nepstad, D C., "Deforestation for Pasture in the Humid Tropics: Is it Economically and Environmentally Sound in the Long Term?" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 1.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session61/1
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Deforestation for Pasture in the Humid Tropics: Is it Economically and Environmentally Sound in the Long Term?
During the past 5 decades, the rate of tropical forest conversion has accelerated in response to economic pressures, population growth, technological development, and prpgrammes and incentives to open land for development. Deforestation rates rose substantially through the I 980s, and were highest in Africa ( 1.7% ), followed by Asia (1.4%) and Latin America (0.9%). The greatest extent of deforestation, however, was In Latin America, especially in the Amazon, where much of the deforestation was for pasture-based cattle development. Although forest conversion for ranching has been routinely criticised because of the ecological and socioeconomic implications associated with it, cattle herds continue to grow owing to socioeconomic and political pressures. Deforestation for pasture has been criticised from the ecological point of view because ( 1) large amounts of carbon are liberated to the atmosphere in the form of CO2 and other gases; (2) pastures are fire-prone ecosystems and this may lead to desertification; (3) pastures cause local and regional impact on biodiversity; and ( 4) they are associated with local and global climate change. Agrotechnically, pastures afler deforestation are criticised for their low agronomic stability which leads to pasture degradation owing to weed encroachment. Socioeconomically, criticism comes from their low levels of economic and social returns per unit of area, natural resources and capital. Pasture research and development experiences in forested lands, especially in Latin America, indicate that: (1) desertification owing to deforestation for pasture is more a myth than a reality and lacks scientific support; (2) by controlling interrelated environmental and technological factors causing pasture degradation, ii is possible to obtain agrotechnically sustainable pastures; (3) relatively shallow-rooted, drought-sensitive pasture ecosystems have lower annual evapotranspiration than the forest ecosystem and may lead lo decline In regional rainfall; (4) pasture-based cattle ranching may be profitable relative to immediate economic values If appropriate pasture management measures are taken. While pasture-based ranching on deforested lands may often be economic In the medium and long term, there are ecological costs involved. Societal costs associated with nutrient loss, CO2 release, increased fire danger, changes in regional climate and loss of biodiversity could exceed US$5000/ha. Cattle ranching should be developed on already deforested lands and, in the medium and long term, the unsustainable extensive ranching models should gradually be transformed into more sustainable semi-intensive beef cattle models, semi-intensive dual-purpose cattle ranching models, and intensive agrosilvipastoral models. Research plays a critical role in this context.
