Search Results (76)

The yak (Bos grunniens) is a key species in high-altitude rangelands of Asia. Despite their ecological and economic importance, yak production faces persistent challenges, including low milk yields, vulnerability to climate changes, emerging diseases, and a lack of systematic breeding programs. This review presents the genomic, physiological, and environmental dimensions of yak biology and husbandry. Genes such as EPAS1, which encodes hypoxia-inducible transcription factors, underpin physiological adaptations, including enlarged cardiopulmonary structures, elevated erythrocyte concentrations, and specialized thermoregulatory mechanisms that enable their survival at elevations of 3000 m and above. Copy number variations (CNVs) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) present promising markers for improving milk and meat production, disease resistance, and metabolic efficiency. F1 and F2 generations of yak–cattle hybrids show superior growth and milk yields, but reproductive barriers, such as natural mating or artificial insemination, and environmental factors limit the success of these hybrids beyond second generation. Infectious diseases, such as bovine viral diarrhea and antimicrobial-resistant and biofilm-forming Enterococcus and E. coli, pose risks to herd health and food safety. Rising ambient temperatures, declining forage biomass, and increased disease prevalence due to climate changes risk yak economic performance and welfare. Addressing these challenges by nutritional, environmental, and genetic interventions will safeguard yak pastoralism. This review describes the genes associated with different yak traits and provides an overview of the genetic adaptations of yaks (Bos grunniens) to environmental stresses at high altitudes and emphasizes the need for conservation and improvement strategies for sustainable husbandry of these yaks. Full article

In the Sahelian context characterized by the increasing scarcity of forage resources, this study investigated how climate change perceptions influence the adoption of cottonseed cake in pastoral and agro-pastoral systems in the Hauts-Bassins region of Burkina Faso. Drawing on the Subjective Expected Utility (SEU) theory and using a logit model estimated from survey data collected from 366 livestock farms, the analysis reveals that the perceived degradation of rangelands due to climate change is a key determinant of adoption. Over 40% of surveyed herders believed that climate change is negatively affecting the availability of natural forage. This heightened awareness is significantly associated with a greater likelihood of adopting cottonseed cake as a feed supplementation strategy. This study highlights the crucial role of cognitive factors in shaping adaptation decisions, beyond traditional economic and structural determinants. It underscores the importance of incorporating environmental perceptions into public policies supporting livestock systems and technological innovations in pastoral. Full article

The world’s population is projected to rise significantly, which poses challenges for global food security due to increased demand for food, especially from livestock products. As incomes grow in lower-income countries, there is a shift towards more diverse diets that include meat and dairy, stressing our agricultural systems. Livestock plays a crucial role in food production, contributing about 16% of dietary energy, and effective pasture management is vital for enhancing livestock productivity. This review explores how integrating pasture and livestock management can create sustainable food systems and improve nutrition and livelihoods. It assesses the economic viability of pasture-based livestock systems and examines how climate change affects both pasture productivity and livestock performance. The review also identifies innovative practices, such as improved grazing management and technological advancements, that can improve pasture health and livestock output. The findings underscore the importance of well-managed pastures, which can restore degraded lands, improve animal welfare, and support food security. It also highlights that adaptation strategies are necessary to address the challenges posed by climate change, ensuring that livestock systems remain sustainable. By focusing on innovative practices and better management, we can meet the growing demand for animal products while preserving ecosystems and promoting economic stability. Overall, this review emphasizes the need for a holistic understanding of how livestock and pasture management can work together to enhance food security in a changing world. Full article

Island ecosystems are vulnerable, as natural disasters and inappropriate anthropogenic activities can easily disrupt the ecological balance, posing significant challenges to the delivery of ecosystem services. In order to evaluate the ecosystem service functions of the Zhoushan Archipelago, based on the InVEST model, the four services of water conservation, carbon storage, habitat quality, and soil conservation in the Zhoushan Archipelago in 2017, 2020, and 2023 were estimated, and the spatial pattern of comprehensive ecosystem service function was determined by principal component analysis. The results showed the following: (1) the spatial distribution of water conservation, carbon storage, habitat quality, and soil conservation values in 2017, 2020, and 2023 show the same trend, with high values distributed in the central areas of Zhoushan Island, Changtu Island, Taotao Island, and Qushan Island, and low values distributed in the coastal areas of Zhoushan Island, Yangshan Island, and Yushan Island; (2) land use types have a significant effect on four services. Trees, built areas, rangeland, and cropland were the primary contributors to these four ecosystem services; (3) from 2017 to 2023, the highly important areas and extremely important areas showed a decreasing trend. In 2023, the highly important areas and extremely important areas accounted for 17.29% and 2.33% of the total area, which are important for maintaining the virtuous cycle of the ecosystem. This study provides a scientific basis for the sustainable development of the island. Full article

The livestock sector is crucial for global food security and economic development, particularly in developing nations, as it supports the livelihoods of approximately 1.3 billion people. However, with the global population expected to reach 9.2 billion by 2050, the sector must address increasing demand for livestock products while ensuring environmental sustainability. This study used the available literature to evaluate the economic viability of sustainable pasture and rangeland management practices to enhance livestock production. The key findings demonstrate that strategies such as rotational grazing and nitrogen fertilization can decrease winter feed costs by up to 40% while simultaneously improving pasture productivity and animal weight gains. Initial investments in these improved forage practices offer high internal rates of return, indicating their profitability. To guide sustainable pasture production and rangeland management, we propose a conceptual framework that balances cultivated pastures and natural rangelands. This framework assesses critical factors, including input costs, expected outputs (enhanced biodiversity and livestock production), and interventions to mitigate land degradation. For successful adoption of these practices, targeted policies are essential. Governments should develop financial support mechanisms for smallholder farmers, improve transportation infrastructure for efficient feed logistics, and provide technical assistance to educate producers on sustainable practices. Engaging stakeholders to align policies with local needs is also vital. By implementing these strategic interventions, the resilience of livestock systems can be strengthened, contributing to long-term sustainability and supporting food security and rural community well-being. Full article

Grazing shapes rangelands globally, but it is difficult to study. Acoustic monitoring enables grazing to be described in terms of jaw movements, which are fundamental to how herbivores interact with their foraging environment. In an observational study on Mediterranean herbaceous rangeland, 10 beef cattle cows were monitored continuously over multiple days in two seasons. The algorithm used to analyze the acoustic signal furnished (without classification) a data sample of ≈5 M ingestive and ruminatory jaw movements. These were analyzed as between-event intervals and as minutely rates. The rumination displayed a consistent, strong rhythm and pattern of jaw movements. In contrast, there was no single “signature” jaw movement pattern for grazing (i.e., non-rumination). Although the underlying natural rhythm of rumination dominated non-rumination, it was intermittently and irregularly interrupted by longer intervals, whose size scaled logarithmically. There was evidence of further substructure, with a degree of separation between “grazing” and “resting” in the conventional sense. Three broad grazing styles emerged. In the “intense” style, animals sustained long runs of jaw movements in the natural rhythm, with relatively few interruptions. In the “regular” style, comprising the majority of non-rumination jaw activity, the natural rhythm still dominated, but was punctuated at irregular intervals by eruptions of somewhat longer intervals. The “diffuse” style comprised shorter runs in the natural rhythm, punctuated by highly erratic intervals spanning orders of magnitude. When the jaw movement events were viewed as minutely rates, the non-rumination population showed strong bimodality in the distribution of non-zero rates, with peaks at ≈60 and ≈15 jaw movements min⁻¹, suggesting two modes of grazing. The results strongly support the notion of behavioral grazing intensity and call into question the approach of viewing grazing as a binary state or expecting measures of grazing time to be strongly indicative of intake rate. Rate- and interval-based analyses of information at the jaw movement level can yield a penetrating profile of how an animal interacts with its foraging environment, epitomized in a graphical formulation termed the time accumulation curve. These results strengthen the case for the further development of this sensor technology. Full article

In China’s rural areas, as populations flow into cities, dependence on land has significantly decreased, leading to widespread land abandonment; however, the relationship between population and land in pastoral areas differs. This study conducted a five-year tracking survey on Sunite Right Banner in Xilingol League (Inner Mongolia), where macro data and in-depth home interviews were used for the mechanisms’ analysis. The findings demonstrate that the pastoral regions’ ecological pressure has increased with population immigration. There are several factors influencing such interaction between people and rangeland: First is the cost mechanism. The increasing cost of livestock production leads herders to increase their reliance on grazing rental systems to increase the number of livestock. The grazing rental system generates income for those migrating to adjacent urban regions. Second is the institutional mechanism. The “three-separating property right systems”, a recent rural land institutional reform policy, has marketized rural individualized rangelands, leading herders to focus more on the exchange value of rangelands rather than the use value, including ecological functions. Consequently, both lessors and lessees engage in high-intensity utilization of their individualized grazing lands. Third is the natural mechanism. Climate fluctuations influence herders’ migration patterns, prompting them to leave and return to grazing lands. These ecological dynamics force herders to oscillate between survival and development, intensifying pressure on the grasslands during favorable years and preventing them from recovering while increasing the occurrence of poor years, such as droughts. Fourth is the consumption mechanism. Herders who have migrated to urban regions must continue relying on rangeland resources to sustain their livelihoods. However, lower economic outputs of livestock production hardly catch up with the higher consumption levels in urban regions, which leads migrated herders to increase their pressure on rural rangelands. The final factor is a combination of the previous four mechanisms. The interplay between these previously mentioned four mechanisms encouraged higher herder population outflow, though their reliance on rangeland resources has continued. Based on the results, we argue that these dynamic relations between rural population change and land use patterns are becoming common issues across pastoral regions in Inner Mongolia, demanding innovative solutions. Full article

Background: In the Sahel, one of the largest semi-arid areas in the world, pastoral livestock is the main source of protein for the local population. The quantification of herbaceous biomass in the Sahelian rangelands is of major importance since it provides food for the livestock. The main method used to monitor the biomass consists of cutting, drying, and weighting it. However, indirect methods are available and allow a reliable biomass estimation. Methods: In this study, we developed a non-destructive method for estimating herbaceous biomass for the Sahelian rangelands based on measurements of its height and coverage. Results: Results show that the fit is better in the fenced area. The volume index (height × coverage) provides a better biomass prediction with relative differences between measured and predicted biomass of 11% in 2017 and 8% in 2019. Conclusions: Monitoring herbaceous biomass without destroying it is possible by measuring only its height and coverage. Full article

Land use and land cover changes (LULCCs) are vital indicators for assessing the dynamic relationship between humans and nature, particularly in diverse and evolving landscapes. This study employs remote sensing (RS) data and machine learning algorithms (MLAs) to investigate LULCC dynamics within the Indus River Delta region of Sindh, Pakistan. The focus is on tracking the trajectories of land use changes within mangrove forests and associated ecosystem services over twenty years. Our findings reveal a modest improvement in mangrove forest cover in specific areas, with an increase from 0.28% to 0.4%, alongside a slight expansion of wetland areas from 2.95% to 3.19%. However, significant increases in cropland, increasing from 22.76% to 28.14%, and built-up areas, increasing from 0.71% to 1.66%, pose risks such as altered sedimentation and runoff patterns as well as habitat degradation. Additionally, decreases in barren land from 57.10% to 52.7% and a reduction in rangeland from 16.16% to 13.92% indicate intensified land use conversion and logging activities. This study highlights the vulnerability of mangrove ecosystems in the Indus Delta to agricultural expansion, urbanization, resource exploitation, and land mismanagement. Recommendations include harmonizing developmental ambitions with ecological conservation, prioritizing integrated coastal area management, reinforcing mangrove protection measures, and implementing sustainable land use planning practices. These actions are essential for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the region’s ecosystems and human communities. Full article

The integration of indigenous knowledge systems into the discussion of bush encroachment management is of paramount importance. Indigenous knowledge and formal monitoring may be mutually beneficial, and using both approaches can improve natural resource management. Savannah rangeland landscapes hold deep cultural and spiritual significance for indigenous communities, and their perceptions can provide valuable insights into creating more effective, community-driven conservation initiatives. This study was aimed at filling the existing knowledge and research gap on bush encroachment control by focusing on the integration of indigenous knowledge systems. To achieve this, the current research included three distinct non-probability sampling strategies: (1) Purposive, (2) Snowball, (3) Convenience sampling methods. The results showed that 90.3% of the participants indicated that the main encroaching species of concern was sickle bush (Dichrostachys cinerea) and it is therefore perceived as a problem in the rangeland. The majority of farmer respondents indicated that they cut the encroacher plant down, uproot all root systems, then burn the remaining roots. This is reported to be a more effective way of managing sickle bush as an encroacher plant. Both genders generally believe in the efficacy of these systems, with variations in levels of agreement. However, a gender disparity emerges in opinions on incorporating communal-based approaches, emphasizing the need to consider gender perspectives in environmental management initiatives. Therefore, considering this, the study concludes that a holistic approach, integrating both formal and informal knowledge systems, may be crucial for sustainable and effective management strategies. Given that, recognizing the diversity of perspectives within the community, particularly regarding gender differences, is essential for developing inclusive and community-driven environmental management initiatives. Full article

Unmanned aerial systems offer a cost-effective and reproducible method for monitoring natural resources in expansive areas. But the transferability of developed models, which are often based on single snapshots, is rarely tested. This is particularly relevant in rangelands where forage resources are inherently patchy in space and time, which may limit model transfer. Here, we investigated the accuracy of drone-based models in estimating key proxies of forage provision across two land tenure systems and between two periods of the growing season in semi-arid rangelands. We tested case-specific models and a landscape model, with the expectation that the landscape model performs better than the case-specific models as it captures the highest variability expected in the rangeland system. The landscape model did achieve the lowest error when predicting herbaceous biomass and predicted land cover with better or similar accuracy to the case-specific models. This reinforces the importance of incorporating the widest variation of conditions in predictive models. This study contributes to understanding model transferability in drier rangeland systems characterized by spatial and temporal heterogeneity. By advancing the integration of drone technology for accurate monitoring of such dynamic ecosystems, this research contributes to sustainable rangeland management practices. Full article

Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. (Rhamnaceae) (Chinee Apple, Indian Jujube, or Ber) is a significant woody weed in the drier tropics of northern Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. Throughout these regions, its densely formed thickets influence the structure, function, and composition of rangeland ecosystems by outcompeting native pasture species. Despite this, the recent literature is heavily focused on the horticultural value of domesticated Ziziphus species in South Asia (China, India, and Pakistan), particularly its potential for poverty alleviation in arid or semi-arid areas. In fact, there has been comparatively little research undertaken on its invasiveness or associated ecological factors in pastoral contexts. Currently, the management of Z. mauritiana is limited to the application of synthetic herbicides or mechanical clearing operations. There is also considerable interest in the exploitation of host-specific, natural enemies (biological control agents, herbivorous insects, fungi, bacteria, or viruses) for limiting the vigour, competitiveness, or reproductive capacity of Z. mauritiana in northern Australia. The development of a “bioherbicide” in lieu of synthetic counterparts may foster a more resilient coexistence between agricultural systems and the natural environment owing to its reduced environmental persistence and increased target specificity. This review summarises the current literature on the weediness, ecological impacts, and current management of this problematic weed, thereby identifying (i) opportunities for further research and (ii) recommendations for improved management within its invasive range. Full article

Australia’s tropical savannas are a vast landscape of grasslands with high biodiversity value. Effective biodiversity conservation in this landscape requires private contributions to complement the under-sized formal conservation estate. The landscape is dominated by rangelands, in particular extensive cattle grazing on pastoral stations which typically measure hundreds or thousands of square kilometers. The paper reports the results of a discrete–continuous (or “two-stage”) choice experiment conducted with savanna pastoralists. A discrete choice experiment explored the stated willingness to participate in two long-term conservation strategies: (i) total exclusion of cattle from designated parcels of land with management of that land for biodiversity, and (ii) the implementation of rotational grazing systems governed by the requirements of biodiversity, among other contractual attributes. An extension question asked about the area that respondents were willing to supply and a contract they were willing to accept. Double-hurdle (type II tobit) modelling was used for combined data analysis. The results show that potential participation in voluntary conservation contracts by pastoralists is primarily influenced by contract attributes, namely, the conservation action required, the stewardship payment received, contract length and whether the contract contains flexibility provisions. Land productivity is also significant. The level of stewardship payment required to incentivize participation in the conservation of grasslands is in line with opportunity costs, in particular option value. The amount of land that pastoralists are willing to supply is determined by the conservation payment as well as farm size and intrinsic motivation. This research illustrates strategies for integrating biodiversity conservation into cattle grazing operations in Australia’s tropical savannas, which are applicable to grasslands globally. It provides data of an economic nature to inform the development of multi-tenure biodiversity conservation strategies. Full article

Semiarid Tunisia is characterized by agricultural production that is delimited by water availability and degraded soil. This situation is exacerbated by human pressure and the negative effects of climate change. To improve the knowledge of long-term (1980 to 2020) drivers for Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes, we investigated the semiarid Rihana region in central Tunisia. A new approach involving Google Earth Engine (GEE) was used to map LULC using Landsat imagery and vegetative indices (NDVI, MSAVI, and EVI) by applying a Random Forest (RF) classifier. A Rapid Participatory Systemic Diagnosis (RPSD) was used to consider the relation between LULC changes and their key drivers. The methodology relied on interviews with the local population and experts. Focus groups were conducted with practicians of the Regueb Agricultural Extension Services, followed by semi-structured interviews with 52 households. Results showed the following: (1) the RF classifier in Google Earth Engine had strong performance across diverse Landsat image types resulting in overall classification accuracy of ≥0.96 and a kappa coefficient ≥0.93; (2) rainfed olive land increased four times during the study period while irrigated agriculture increased substantially during the last decade; rangeland and rainfed annual crops decreased by 58 and 88%, respectively, between 1980 and 2021; (3) drivers of LULC changes are predominately local in nature, including topography, local climate, hydrology, strategies of household, effects of the 2010 revolution, associated increasing demand for natural resources, agricultural policy, population growth, high cost of agricultural input, and economic opportunities. To summarize, changes in LULC in Rihana are an adaptive response to these various factors. The findings are important to better understand ways towards sustainable management of natural resources in arid and semiarid regions as well as efficient methods to study these processes. Full article

Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) change is a major global concern and a topic of scientific debate. In West Africa, the key trend among the changes of the past few years is the loss of natural vegetation related to changes in different LULC categories, e.g., water bodies, wetland, and bare soil. However, not all detected changes in these LULC categories are relevant for LULC change management intervention in a resource-constrained continent, as a massive change in the dominant LULC types may be due to errors in the LULC maps. Previous LULC change analysis detected large discrepancies in the existing LULC maps in Africa. Here, we applied an open and synergistic framework to update and improve the existing LULC maps for West Africa at five-year intervals from 1990 to 2020—updating them to a finer spatial resolution of 30 m. Next, we detected spatial–temporal patterns in past and present LULC changes with the intensity analysis framework, focusing on the following periods: 1990–2000, 2000–2010, and 2010–2020. A faster annual rate of overall transition was detected in 1990–2000 and 2010–2020 than in 2000–2010. We observed consistent increases in shrubland and grassland in all of the periods, which confirms the observed re-greening of rangeland in West Africa. By contrast, forestland areas experienced consistent decreases over the entire period, indicating deforestation and degradation. We observed a net loss for cropland in the drought period and net gains in the subsequent periods. The settlement category also gained actively in all periods. Net losses of wetland and bare land categories were also observed in all of the periods. We observed net gains in water bodies in the 1990–2000 period and net losses in the 2010–2020 period. We highlighted the active forestland losses as systematic and issued a clarion call for an intervention. The simultaneous active gross loss and gain intensity of cropland raises food security concerns and should act as an early warning sign to policy makers that the food security of marginal geographic locations is under threat, despite the massive expansion of cropland observed in this study area. Instead of focusing on the dynamics of all the LULC categories that may be irrelevant, the intensity analysis framework was vital in identifying the settlement category relevant for LULC change management intervention in West Africa, as well as a cost-effective LULC change management approach. Full article