Grasslands, cattle and land use in the neotropics and subtropics

Vista sencilla de ítem
dc.creatorVera, Raúl R.
dc.creatorRivas Ríos, Libardo
dc.date1996
dc.date2016-02-29T17:14:01Z
dc.date2016-02-29T17:14:01Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T14:34:19Z
dc.descriptionThe paper reviews trends in land use change in the tropics and subtropics of Latin America and the Caribbean, and their relation to the evolution of the cattle industry in the region. It is posited that horizontal expansion is nearly finished, and that cattle sector, and the grasslands that support it, are beginning to intensify. Nevertheless a number of paradoxes subsist and are discussed. Most notable among these are the interactions among land speculation, a characteristic aspect of much of the extensive cattle industry throughout history, with policies and technologies. An overview of grassland-based cattle systems is given and their social, economic and environmental are discussed, showing some of the tradeoffs between intensification, equity and environmental impact. In this context, the desirability of integrating the crop and cattle enterprises is pointed out, and some of the barely incipient trends are identified. The potential benefits brought about by public sector funded research on tropical pastures has been simulated and is summarized, implying that this area of investment has been systematically underfunded. Lastly, the overriding importance of policy changes, and their close interactions with technology developments are analyzed based on simulations ran for the region, and it is concluded that grassland and animal scientists should become more involved in policy debates regarding development of the sector and its environmental implications.
dc.formatapplication/pdf
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/72010
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/82041
dc.languageen
dc.publisherInternational Center for Tropical Agriculture
dc.rightsOpen Access
dc.sourceVera, Raúl R.; Rivas Rios, Libardo. 1996. Grasslands, cattle and land use in the neotropics and subtropics. Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Cali, CO. 27 p.
dc.subjectgrasslands
dc.subjectcattle
dc.subjectland use
dc.subjectsocioeconomic environment
dc.subjectenvironmental impact
dc.subjectpraderas
dc.subjectganado bovino
dc.subjectutilización de la tierra
dc.subjectentorno socioeconómico
dc.subjectimpacto ambiental
dc.titleGrasslands, cattle and land use in the neotropics and subtropics
dc.typeReport

Archivos

Colecciones

Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT)