Colombian farmers adopt new grazing methods to fight deforestation
On Colombia’s cattle ranches, some farmers are embracing rotational grazing to reduce deforestation and make beef production more sustainable.
Austin Landis reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- Intensive rotational grazing divides land into smaller pastures, improving grass growth and reducing methane emissions by up to 30%.
- Silvopastoral systems (SPS) incorporate trees and wildlife habitats, turning farms carbon positive by enhancing biodiversity and carbon capture.
- High upfront costs and lack of national coordination hinder widespread adoption of SPS among traditional ranchers.
Key quote:
“It is not about stopping eating meat. It's a product of high biological value. It’s about how we keep consuming in a more environmentally friendly way.”
— Luis Alfonso Giraldo, director of the Biorum research group at the National University of Colombia
Why this matters:
Deforestation in Colombia, driven by cattle ranching, threatens biodiversity and accelerates climate change. Sustainable grazing methods like SPS could help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, protect ecosystems and support rural livelihoods.
Read more: Leaving rainforests alone allows them to regrow rapidly and capture vast amounts of carbon
