Pioneering ecosystem restoration practices

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Guanacos grazing in field in Patagonia

Overgrazing and Desertification

EXCERPT

For centuries, Patagonia’s vast expanses of arid grasslands supported large herds of wild herbivores grazing on native grasses and scrubs. However, the introduction of sheep (and occasionally cattle) ranching in the early 20th century quickly destroyed this ecological balance. Although these hardy pioneers in Patagonia displayed admirable fortitude in braving the harsh climate, they established a system of land use that could not thrive given the region’s geography and ecology. Stocking rates were consistently over 60% above the estimated carrying capacity of the land. Domestic animals, particularly sheep, inflict far more damage on grasses as they graze than do native herbivores.

The result: vast areas of remote and undeveloped Patagonia approach irreversible ecological collapse. As livestock strips an area down to minimal vegetation, a downward spiral begins. Sheep are selective grazers and long-standing irresponsibility in management has intensified grazing patterns of uneven utilization. This inequity in grazing can lead to animal distribution levels that vary from 8 to 20 times the total stocking rate of a given pasture. This grazing pattern makes it virtually impossible for certain plants to recover. More and more woody, unpalatable plants dominate the landscape as livestock selectively eat grasses and not these scrubs, rendering the land less productive for both livestock and wildlife.

Read the full article: Conservacion Patagonica

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Originally published at desertification.wordpress.com on February 9, 2015.