Rancher Perspectives of a Livestock-Wildlife Conflict in Southern Chile

Hernández, Fidel; Corcoran, Derek; Graells, Giorgia; Roos, Claudine; Downey, Malcolm

doi:10.1016/j.rala.2017.02.002

Cited by 20 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Ranchers considered precipitation a natural population control factor, because guanacos can adapt to arid conditions, and hard winters are important in regulating their populations (Cajal & Ojeda, 1994). Compared with earlier studies that focussed solely on the abundance of guanacos as the origin of negative interactions between guanacos and livestock ranchers (Hernández et al, 2017), this reflects a deeper understanding of ecological relationships between guanacos and livestock (i.e. exploitative competition).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Similar issues have also been identified in the Patagonia region in Chile and Argentina (Iranzo et al, 2013), where extraction for sustainable use was initiated in the early 2000s (through the use and valuation of products such as meat) ahead of an anticipated recovery of local guanaco populations (Gonzalez et al, 2013; Soto et al, 2018). However, according to farmers' protests (La Prensa Austral, 2016), sustainable use has neither resolved the problem nor mitigated the conflict (Hernández et al, 2017), possibly because this approach does not address the deeper social aspects of the problem (Rust et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Climate change contributing to conflicts between livestock farming and guanaco conservation in central Chile: a subjective theories approach

Vargas

Carrasco

Rust

et al. 2020

Oryx

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Negative interactions between guanacos Lama guanicoe and ranchers have recently intensified in central Chile because guanacos are perceived to be competing with livestock for pasture resources. We examined this conservation conflict with a novel approach that considers ranchers' subjective theories, to better understand the origins of the conflict and to identify effective conservation measures based on the participants' explanations. Our findings indicate that ranchers see the source of the current problem in a shift towards increasingly arid conditions associated with climate change. We suggest the ranchers’ perceived problems are not only caused by interspecific resource competition arising from this climatic shift, but also by reported difficulties in negotiating with governmental institutions. This study adds to knowledge of human–wildlife interactions by exploring a further dimension of the complex ecological and social interactions taking place on livestock farms. We recommend identifying effective, acceptable solutions by considering and understanding the everyday knowledge of the conflict's protagonists and their potential for change.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate change contributing to conflicts between livestock farming and guanaco conservation in central Chile: a subjective theories approach

Vargas

Carrasco

Rust

et al. 2020

Oryx

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“…In particular, the GIS-based carrying capacity estimation makes the compensation implementable at the land parcel level. This method is also applicable to other grassland and meadow ecosystems where livestock and wild ungulates coexist, as in many other regions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau 32 , East Africa 33 , and Patagonia in South America 7 . With the aim of protecting wild ungulates, our study provides a reference for reducing the costs of protecting the environment, achieving a balance between wildlife and livestock, and formulating programs to financially compensate locals for livestock reduction.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Competition between livestock and grazing wildlife for food, water, and space is therefore a common issue in grassland ecosystem and biodiversity conservation practices worldwide [3][4][5] . For example, competition between livestock and the kiang (Equus kiang) threatens the conservation prospects of the kiang in the Ladakh of the Trans-Himalaya region 6 , while conflict over sheep ranching is considered a primary cause of the population decline of guanacos (Lama guanicoe) in southern Chile 7 . Due to the increasing demand for beef and lamb, livestock populations have steadily grown over the past decades, resulting in overgrazing in many grasslands 8 .…”

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confidence: 99%

Optimizing livestock carrying capacity for wild ungulate-livestock coexistence in a Qinghai-Tibet Plateau grassland

Ren

Zhu

Baldan

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Wild ungulates are an important part of terrestrial ecosystems and play a critical role in maintaining ecosystem health and integrity. In many grassland ecosystems that are habituated by wild ungulates, the coexistence of domestic ungulates has created a conflict over grazing resources. Solving this conflict requires a balanced and sustainable policy that satisfies both the needs of wildlife protection and food production. Here, we assess the optimal grassland livestock carrying capacity of an alpine grassland on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, given the coexistence of wild populations of kiangs (Equus kiang) and Tibetan gazelles (Procapra picticaudata), two key species grazing in this region. We use kriging and the MaxEnt method to estimate the population sizes of kiangs and Tibetan gazelles in Maduo County, Qinghai Province. We then convert the estimated population size of the two species into sheep units and calculate the residual carrying capacity for livestock grazing. We show that after accounting for the grazing need for kiangs and Tibetan gazelles, grassland in Maduo is capable of supporting 420,641 sheep units, which is slightly more than the current livestock population. However, the residual carrying capacity is highly uneven across the region, and overgrazing is found in many areas of Maduo, especially in northern Maduo. This research provides a useful framework for planning sustainable livestock farming for the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and other regions facing wildlife-livestock conflict.

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“…(2020) also claim that guanacos can only occupy areas where they are able to exploit forage that is out of reach of livestock, and cite as an example the southern grasslands of Peninsula Valdés. We believe that this case cannot be generalised; guanaco populations are found in productive areas of Patagonia with sheep (Hernández et al., 2017; Karesh et al., 1998) suggesting that they can coexist. In fact, if competitive exclusion was commonplace, the current perception of sheep ranchers of guanaco as livestock competitors would not have arisen.…”

Section: Guanaco Distribution In Relation To Domestic Grazersmentioning

confidence: 90%

Are Patagonia grasslands being overgrazed? A response to Marino et al. (2020)

Oliva

Paredes

Ferrante

et al. 2020

Journal of Applied Ecology

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1. Based upon primary productivity estimates, Oliva et al. (2019) concluded that, at the end of last century and after long periods of overgrazing, Patagonia's domestic stocks adjusted to regional-scale herbivore carrying capacity. Populations of guanaco, a native camelid, increased thereafter, driving combined grazing pressures once again over carrying capacity in some areas. 2. Marino et al. (2020) argued that grazing is not really at equilibrium because domestic stocks are concentrated in areas that remain overgrazed. They support the ideas that guanaco density is auto-regulated by resource-defence territoriality, and that guanacos are weak competitors with domestic stock, occupying only marginal areas. In their view, Oliva et al. (2019) put guanacos in the role of scapegoats, leaving domestic stocks unchecked. 3. Equilibrium at regional scale does not preclude overgrazing and under-grazing at local scales. By separating areas with and without domestic stocks, Marino et al. (2020) estimated overgrazing at 28% in Chubut Province and 73% in Santa Cruz Province. Our recalculations show 28% and 47% domestic overgrazing, respectively. However, when combined with guanaco densities, these increase to 48% for Chubut and 108% for Santa Cruz. 4. We question the hypothesised lack of competitive value and efficient selfregulating mechanisms that would prevent guanaco populations from overshooting carrying capacity. A dataset of 13 sheep farms showed mean density of 26 ± 3.8 guanacos/km 2 and high combined grazing pressures. This was also observed in a protected area of Chubut that reached 42 guanacos/km 2 and crashed during drought, with 60% mortality. Thereafter, guanacos increased to 70 guanacos/km 2 , with recruitment rates that showed a complex response of density dependence but remained relatively elevated at densities above the estimated carrying capacity. 5. Synthesis and applications. Marino et al. (2020) are right to question the apparent equilibrium of domestic stocks that are concentrated in areas that may be still overgrazed. But ground data show that guanaco populations have inefficient density population regulation and can reach densities well over carrying capacity, even in the presence of sheep. This does not mean that the main control should be on growing guanaco populations but it stresses our conclusion that of the Provinces of Chubut and Santa Cruz a guanaco population value as estimated by Bay Gavuzzo et al. (2015; Table 2); as these authors did not provide estimates for the Dry and Humid joint management of the native-domestic herbivore system is urgently needed. Joint management can be effected through local plans, as current guanaco management permits can only be issued in areas that are not overgrazed by sheep. Farm management plans may in this way transform an apparent competitor into a valuable resource, complementary to sheep raising.

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Rancher Perspectives of a Livestock-Wildlife Conflict in Southern Chile

Cited by 20 publications

References 6 publications

Climate change contributing to conflicts between livestock farming and guanaco conservation in central Chile: a subjective theories approach

Climate change contributing to conflicts between livestock farming and guanaco conservation in central Chile: a subjective theories approach

Optimizing livestock carrying capacity for wild ungulate-livestock coexistence in a Qinghai-Tibet Plateau grassland

Are Patagonia grasslands being overgrazed? A response to Marino et al. (2020)

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