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From Theory to Practice: Can LEAP/FAO Biodiversity Assessment Guidelines Be a Useful Tool for Knowing the Environmental Status of Livestock Systems?

Author

Listed:
  • María Fernanda de Santiago

    (Recursos Naturales, Producción y Ambiente, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA), Canelones CP 90100, Uruguay)

  • Margenny Barrios

    (Departamento de Ecología y Gestión Ambiental, Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República, Av. Tacuarembó s/n, Entre Av. Artigas y Aparicio Saravia, Maldonado CP 20000, Uruguay)

  • Alejandro D’Anatro

    (Laboratorio de Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo CP 11400, Uruguay)

  • Luis Fernando García

    (Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República, Ruta 8 km 282, Treinta y Tres CP 33000, Uruguay)

  • Ary Mailhos

    (Laboratorio de Botánica, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de la República, Montevideo CP 12900, Uruguay)

  • Gabriel Pompozzi

    (Laboratorio de Entomología, IADIZA (CCT CONICET-Mendoza), Mendoza CP 5500, Argentina)

  • Sofía Rehermann

    (Departamento de Ecología y Gestión Ambiental, Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República, Av. Tacuarembó s/n, Entre Av. Artigas y Aparicio Saravia, Maldonado CP 20000, Uruguay)

  • Miguel Simó

    (Sección Entomología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo CP 11400, Uruguay)

  • Giancarlo Tesitore

    (Departamento de Ecología y Gestión Ambiental, Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República, Av. Tacuarembó s/n, Entre Av. Artigas y Aparicio Saravia, Maldonado CP 20000, Uruguay)

  • Franco Teixeira de Mello

    (Departamento de Ecología y Gestión Ambiental, Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República, Av. Tacuarembó s/n, Entre Av. Artigas y Aparicio Saravia, Maldonado CP 20000, Uruguay)

  • Victoria Valtierra

    (Laboratorio de Botánica, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de la República, Montevideo CP 12900, Uruguay)

  • Oscar Blumetto

    (Recursos Naturales, Producción y Ambiente, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA), Canelones CP 90100, Uruguay)

Abstract

Biodiversity loss is a global concern, and agriculture is one of the economic sectors responsible for this impact. The assessment of ecosystems under the influence of livestock production is essential for knowing their integrity and ability to provide ecosystem services. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the application of LEAP/FAO guidelines for quantitative assessment of biodiversity in the livestock sector at the local scale (farm level) in a group of six study cases in Uruguay. A set of 20 indicators was used, including seven key thematic issues: habitat protection, habitat change, wildlife conservation, invasive species, pollution, aquatic biodiversity, off-farm feed, and landscape-scale conservation. The results show that the LEAP biodiversity assessment guidelines can be useful to characterize the state of ecosystems under pastoral use and some specific components of their biodiversity, as well as assess the interaction of the production system with the environment and plan management accordingly. This work also provides an analysis of the methodology used and recommendations to facilitate its application by the sector. The results from the application of the indicators show a great deal of wild biodiversity that uses grazing systems based on native grasslands as habitats and the acceptable integrity of these ecosystems. On average, farms have 83% of their native ecosystem, with a value of 3.5 for the Ecosystem Integrity Index. In terms of the richness of different groups, there was an average number of species of 112 herbaceous plants, 48 woody plants, 48 spiders, 150 birds, and 14 fish. The main goal of this work is to help in the wider application of the guidelines by facilitating decisions about methodology, necessary resources, and technical support. Moreover, another goal is to show the importance of native grasslands-based livestock systems for biodiversity conservation.

Suggested Citation

  • María Fernanda de Santiago & Margenny Barrios & Alejandro D’Anatro & Luis Fernando García & Ary Mailhos & Gabriel Pompozzi & Sofía Rehermann & Miguel Simó & Giancarlo Tesitore & Franco Teixeira de Mel, 2022. "From Theory to Practice: Can LEAP/FAO Biodiversity Assessment Guidelines Be a Useful Tool for Knowing the Environmental Status of Livestock Systems?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-34, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:23:p:16259-:d:994668
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    References listed on IDEAS

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