Sustainability of Livestock Systems in the Pampa Biome of Brazil: An Analysis Highlighting the Rangeland Dilemma

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyse the sustainability of different livestock systems in the Brazilian Pampa biome, from the perspective of the rangeland dilemma. We used the indicator-based framework for evaluating the sustainability of natural resource management systems (MESMIS). These were constructed for social, economic and environmental dimensions, and they were measured across a study suite of 115 establishments, representing the rangeland livestock system (RLS), intensive livestock system, and livestock–agricultural system (ALS). Indicator averages were compared between three systems via ANOVA and Tukey test. The results allocated a higher level of sustainability to RLS. When the three land-use systems were analysed across the dimensions, significant differences were found in their environmental sustainability, with the ALS presenting poorer results. Within each dimension, there were significant differences in the indicators for production systems, social participation and capital flow. We discussed two main points: the results found through the concept of the rangeland dilemma, by exploring its conditions, in addition to exposing the concept of functional integrity. In conclusion, an approach to develop policies for the Pampa is to recognize the rangeland as a “common good”, to generate income and stimulate the local economy.

Change in land use and economic dynamics of the Ibirapuitã River Environmental Protection Area of the Brazilian Pampa biome

“…In the context of the EPA Territory of the conservation unit of the Brazilian Pampa biome, results indicate that land-use change has generated an economic impact on the territory, although the EPA of the Ibirapuitã has fulfilled its function of sustainable use (IUCN, 2010;Dassow et al, 2011). The data also point to an impasse between economic growth and environmental preservation in the territory of the Ibirapuitã River (Viana et al, 2021a;Gonçalves, 1999;Vargas et al, 2020;Patrick, 2013). Intensive land-use changes have mainly occurred in the past two decades (T. E. de Oliveira et al, 2017a;Kuplich et al, 2018;Perkins & Millington, 2020).…”

“…Promoting the sustainability of economic activities in protected areas should be a fundamental principle for decisionmakers at local and regional levels for farmers (Viana et al, 2021a;Miguel et al, 2017). Thus, developing representative public policies (Viana et al, 2021b;Silveira et al, 2006) for the EPA territory is the main primaryer native for promoting economic growth together with environmental preservation (Viana et al, 2021b;Silveira et al, 2006;Nascimento et al, 2020).…”

“…However, in the last 20 years, approximately 50% of the natural vegetation of the biome has been transformed into agricultural land (Le Féon et al, 2016). This transformation occurred due to natural pastures being considered less profitable, and they did not contribute significantly to the economic development of the region (Viana et al, 2021a). Thus, the incorporation of grains associated with intensive livestock farming in these regions was associated with high profitability and the development of the economy of southern Brazil (Viana et al, 2021a).…”

“…Thus, there are intertemporal tradeoffs, considering the short, medium and long term, resulting in a impasse between environmental preservation and economic growth, involving multiple stakeholders. On the one hand, the grasslands of the Pampa biome participate in essential ecological processes, such as water cycle maintenance, erosion control, and biodiversity conservation (Viana et al, 2021a). On the other hand, extensive production systems are associated with the low economic development of the municipalities in this region (Viana et al, 2021b).…”