Economic-environmental assessment of silvo-pastoral systems in Colombia: An ecosystem service perspective

Cattle production in Colombia has an important social and economic role but causes considerable environmental impacts, such as deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions by ruminants, particularly methane. Thus, technological innovations aimed at reducing these impacts must focus on both economic an...

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Main Authors: Sandoval, Danny, Florez, Jesús F., Enciso, Karen, Sotelo Cabrera, Mauricio Efren, Burkart, Stefan
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Elsevier 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/131563
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author Sandoval, Danny
Florez, Jesús F.
Enciso, Karen
Sotelo Cabrera, Mauricio Efren
Burkart, Stefan
author_browse Burkart, Stefan
Enciso, Karen
Florez, Jesús F.
Sandoval, Danny
Sotelo Cabrera, Mauricio Efren
author_facet Sandoval, Danny
Florez, Jesús F.
Enciso, Karen
Sotelo Cabrera, Mauricio Efren
Burkart, Stefan
author_sort Sandoval, Danny
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Cattle production in Colombia has an important social and economic role but causes considerable environmental impacts, such as deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions by ruminants, particularly methane. Thus, technological innovations aimed at reducing these impacts must focus on both economic and environmental sustainability. Silvo-pastoral systems (SPS) offer productivity increases while generating environmental benefits and ecosystem services and are therefore at the center of debate around sustainable production alternatives. The objective of this article is to evaluate the economic-environmental performance of two proposed SPS for a cattle fattening system for the Colombian context: (i) Urochloa brizantha cv. Toledo and (ii) Urochloa hybrid cv. Cayman, both in association with Leucaena leucocephala trees for browsing and shade provision. They are compared with the respective base scenarios of only using the grasses in monocultures. The study consists of a financial analysis, which estimates potential profitability increases in beef production in the SPS, and an environmental evaluation, which estimates the monetary values of microclimatic regulation and reduction of methane emissions. The value of methane emission reductions is then integrated into a combined economic-environmental evaluation. Results show that both SPS improve the profitability indicators of the production system and reduce the probability of economic loss. Likewise, the reduction of methane emissions in the SPS is estimated at US$6.12 per cattle, and the economic value of microclimatic regulation at US$2,026 per hectare.
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spelling CGSpace1315632025-11-11T19:01:34Z Economic-environmental assessment of silvo-pastoral systems in Colombia: An ecosystem service perspective Sandoval, Danny Florez, Jesús F. Enciso, Karen Sotelo Cabrera, Mauricio Efren Burkart, Stefan environmental impact methane heat stress sustainability ecosystem services cattle Cattle production in Colombia has an important social and economic role but causes considerable environmental impacts, such as deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions by ruminants, particularly methane. Thus, technological innovations aimed at reducing these impacts must focus on both economic and environmental sustainability. Silvo-pastoral systems (SPS) offer productivity increases while generating environmental benefits and ecosystem services and are therefore at the center of debate around sustainable production alternatives. The objective of this article is to evaluate the economic-environmental performance of two proposed SPS for a cattle fattening system for the Colombian context: (i) Urochloa brizantha cv. Toledo and (ii) Urochloa hybrid cv. Cayman, both in association with Leucaena leucocephala trees for browsing and shade provision. They are compared with the respective base scenarios of only using the grasses in monocultures. The study consists of a financial analysis, which estimates potential profitability increases in beef production in the SPS, and an environmental evaluation, which estimates the monetary values of microclimatic regulation and reduction of methane emissions. The value of methane emission reductions is then integrated into a combined economic-environmental evaluation. Results show that both SPS improve the profitability indicators of the production system and reduce the probability of economic loss. Likewise, the reduction of methane emissions in the SPS is estimated at US$6.12 per cattle, and the economic value of microclimatic regulation at US$2,026 per hectare. 2023-08 2023-08-16T10:22:30Z 2023-08-16T10:22:30Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/131563 en Open Access application/pdf Elsevier Sandoval, D.F.; Florez, J.F.; Enciso, K.; Sotelo, M.; Burkart, S. (2023) Economic-environmental assessment of silvo-pastoral systems in Colombia: An ecosystem service perspective. Heliyon 9(8): e19082. ISSN: 2405-8440
spellingShingle environmental impact
methane
heat stress
sustainability
ecosystem services
cattle
Sandoval, Danny
Florez, Jesús F.
Enciso, Karen
Sotelo Cabrera, Mauricio Efren
Burkart, Stefan
Economic-environmental assessment of silvo-pastoral systems in Colombia: An ecosystem service perspective
title Economic-environmental assessment of silvo-pastoral systems in Colombia: An ecosystem service perspective
title_full Economic-environmental assessment of silvo-pastoral systems in Colombia: An ecosystem service perspective
title_fullStr Economic-environmental assessment of silvo-pastoral systems in Colombia: An ecosystem service perspective
title_full_unstemmed Economic-environmental assessment of silvo-pastoral systems in Colombia: An ecosystem service perspective
title_short Economic-environmental assessment of silvo-pastoral systems in Colombia: An ecosystem service perspective
title_sort economic environmental assessment of silvo pastoral systems in colombia an ecosystem service perspective
topic environmental impact
methane
heat stress
sustainability
ecosystem services
cattle
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/131563
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