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Silvopasture is a type of agroforestry that could deliver ecosystem services and support local livelihoods by integrating trees into pasture-based livestock systems. This study modeled the financial returns from silvopastures, planted forests, and conventional cattle-pasture systems in Amazonas, Peru using capital budgeting techniques. Forests had a lower land expectation value (USD 845 per hectare) than conventional cattle systems (USD 1275 per hectare) at a 4% discount rate. “Typical” model silvopastures, based on prior landowner surveys in the Amazonas region, were most competitive at low discount rates. The four actual silvopastoral systems we visited and examined had higher returns (4%: USD 1588 to USD 9524 per hectare) than either alternative pure crop or tree system, more than likely through strategies for generating value-added such as on-site retail stands. Silvopasture also offers animal health and environmental benefits, and could receive governmental or market payments to encourage these practices.

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Livestock in the Peruvian Amazon region is mostly produced in areas considered degraded pastureland and associated with deforestation. Silvopastoral systems (SPS) are an alternative for sustainable livestock production. This article aims to provide information about progress in development of SPS in the Peruvian Amazon region during the last 2 decades and opportunities to develop it further at the national level. The geographical characteristics and climatic conditions of the Peruvian Amazon are described, followed by a review of the experiences with SPS in the 5 most relevant departments of the region. Constraints for implementation of SPS practices in the country and the current initiatives at regional and national level to promote and develop more sustainable livestock production in the region are presented. There is a large variation in SPS practiced along the different departments of the Amazon region. It is imperative that the Peruvian Government continues promoting SPS for recovering degraded lands through generating enabling conditions for farmers to adopt and/or scale up SPS.

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