Environmental spatial assessment at ranch scale: a tool for optimizing livestock management in Argentine forests
Question: Effective environmental management depends on accurate and efficient assessments of ecological conditions. This study introduces a method that combines remote sensing with a Rapid Assessment Method (RAM) to evaluate the environmental status of land units at the ranch scale. We ask whether...
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| Format: | Artículo |
| Language: | Inglés |
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Pensoft Publishers
2025
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/23759 https://vcs.pensoft.net/article/141917/list/9/ https://doi.org/10.3897/VCS.141917 |
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| author | Varela, Santiago Agustin Calamari, Noelia Cecilia Trinco, Fabio Daniel Diez, Juan Pablo Weigandt, Mariana Noemi Barzan, Flavia Romina Lezana, Lucrecia Eclesia, Roxana Paola Lopez, Dardo Ruben Coria, Rubén Darío Peri, Pablo Luis Umaña, Fernando Raffo, Fernando Gazzotti, Juan Ignacio De La Peña, Carlos Alberto Wilson, Marcelo German Gabioud, Emmanuel Adrian Hernandez, Hernan Hector Canavelli, Sonia Beatriz |
| author_browse | Barzan, Flavia Romina Calamari, Noelia Cecilia Canavelli, Sonia Beatriz Coria, Rubén Darío De La Peña, Carlos Alberto Diez, Juan Pablo Eclesia, Roxana Paola Gabioud, Emmanuel Adrian Gazzotti, Juan Ignacio Hernandez, Hernan Hector Lezana, Lucrecia Lopez, Dardo Ruben Peri, Pablo Luis Raffo, Fernando Trinco, Fabio Daniel Umaña, Fernando Varela, Santiago Agustin Weigandt, Mariana Noemi Wilson, Marcelo German |
| author_facet | Varela, Santiago Agustin Calamari, Noelia Cecilia Trinco, Fabio Daniel Diez, Juan Pablo Weigandt, Mariana Noemi Barzan, Flavia Romina Lezana, Lucrecia Eclesia, Roxana Paola Lopez, Dardo Ruben Coria, Rubén Darío Peri, Pablo Luis Umaña, Fernando Raffo, Fernando Gazzotti, Juan Ignacio De La Peña, Carlos Alberto Wilson, Marcelo German Gabioud, Emmanuel Adrian Hernandez, Hernan Hector Canavelli, Sonia Beatriz |
| author_sort | Varela, Santiago Agustin |
| collection | INTA Digital |
| description | Question: Effective environmental management depends on accurate and efficient assessments of ecological conditions. This study introduces a method that combines remote sensing with a Rapid Assessment Method (RAM) to evaluate the environmental status of land units at the ranch scale. We ask whether this integrated approach can generate spatially explicit information to support the implementation and monitoring of sustainable livestock grazing in native forests. Study area: The study was conducted in three livestock ranches in Argentina. These ranches encompass heterogeneous landscapes characterized by varying soil types, vegetation cover, and topographic features that influence ecological conditions. Methods: Remote sensing imagery was used to delineate Ecological Sites (ESi) based on bio-geomorphic attributes such as soil, topography, and vegetation. These spatial units guided field sampling, where RAM was applied to assess environmental indicators. Field data were integrated into an Environmental Health Index (EHI), summarizing the ecological status of each ESi. Ordinary kriging interpolated EHI values across the landscape, enabling spatial visualization of environmental health patterns and spatial variability. Results: Mapping of EHI values showed that most land units exhibited intermediate to high environmental health, suggesting generally favorable ecological conditions across the ranches. However, some areas had low EHI values associated with signs of disturbance or degradation, including fire, flooding, invasive species, or overgrazing. Conclusions: The integration of remote sensing with RAM provided a detailed overview of ecological conditions at the ranch scale. The results can guide more focused and efficient fieldwork in areas requiring closer monitoring due to potential environmental degradation or changes linked to livestock management. This approach supports the implementation and evaluation of sustainable grazing management in native forests, offering a robust, scalable tool for environmental assessment. Additionally, by optimizing the allocation of sampling effort, it enables more informed decision-making to maintain and enhance ecological health in these production systems. |
| format | Artículo |
| id | INTA23759 |
| institution | Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA -Argentina) |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| publisherStr | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | INTA237592025-09-10T13:57:56Z Environmental spatial assessment at ranch scale: a tool for optimizing livestock management in Argentine forests Varela, Santiago Agustin Calamari, Noelia Cecilia Trinco, Fabio Daniel Diez, Juan Pablo Weigandt, Mariana Noemi Barzan, Flavia Romina Lezana, Lucrecia Eclesia, Roxana Paola Lopez, Dardo Ruben Coria, Rubén Darío Peri, Pablo Luis Umaña, Fernando Raffo, Fernando Gazzotti, Juan Ignacio De La Peña, Carlos Alberto Wilson, Marcelo German Gabioud, Emmanuel Adrian Hernandez, Hernan Hector Canavelli, Sonia Beatriz Primary Forests Grazing Remote Sensing Cartography Disturbance Environmental Degradation Bosques Primarios Pastoreo Teledetección Cartografía Disturbios Degradación Ambiental Argentina Rapid Assessment Method (RAM) Environmental Status Native Forests Sustainable Grazing Environmental Health Index (EHI) Método de Evaluación Rápida Estado Ambiental Bosque Nativo Pastoreo Sostenible Indice de Salud Ambiental (EHI) Question: Effective environmental management depends on accurate and efficient assessments of ecological conditions. This study introduces a method that combines remote sensing with a Rapid Assessment Method (RAM) to evaluate the environmental status of land units at the ranch scale. We ask whether this integrated approach can generate spatially explicit information to support the implementation and monitoring of sustainable livestock grazing in native forests. Study area: The study was conducted in three livestock ranches in Argentina. These ranches encompass heterogeneous landscapes characterized by varying soil types, vegetation cover, and topographic features that influence ecological conditions. Methods: Remote sensing imagery was used to delineate Ecological Sites (ESi) based on bio-geomorphic attributes such as soil, topography, and vegetation. These spatial units guided field sampling, where RAM was applied to assess environmental indicators. Field data were integrated into an Environmental Health Index (EHI), summarizing the ecological status of each ESi. Ordinary kriging interpolated EHI values across the landscape, enabling spatial visualization of environmental health patterns and spatial variability. Results: Mapping of EHI values showed that most land units exhibited intermediate to high environmental health, suggesting generally favorable ecological conditions across the ranches. However, some areas had low EHI values associated with signs of disturbance or degradation, including fire, flooding, invasive species, or overgrazing. Conclusions: The integration of remote sensing with RAM provided a detailed overview of ecological conditions at the ranch scale. The results can guide more focused and efficient fieldwork in areas requiring closer monitoring due to potential environmental degradation or changes linked to livestock management. This approach supports the implementation and evaluation of sustainable grazing management in native forests, offering a robust, scalable tool for environmental assessment. Additionally, by optimizing the allocation of sampling effort, it enables more informed decision-making to maintain and enhance ecological health in these production systems. EEA Bariloche Fil: Varela, Santiago Agustin. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; Argentina. Fil: Varela, Santiago Agustin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; Argentina. Fil: Calamari, Noelia Cecilia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; Argentina. Fil: Trinco, Fabio Daniel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; Argentina. Fil: Trinco, Fabio Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; Argentina. Fil: Diez, Juan Pablo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; Argentina. Fil: Weigandt, Mariana Noemi. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; Argentina. Fil: Weigandt, Mariana Noemi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; Argentina. Fil: Barzan, Flavia Romina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; Argentina. Fil: Barzan, Flavia Romina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fil: Lezana, Lucrecia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Delta del Paraná. Departamento de Producción; Argentina. Fil: Eclesia, Roxana Paola. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; Argentina. Fil: Lopez, Dardo Ruben. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Manfredi. Campo Anexo Villa Dolores; Argentina. Fil: Lopez, Dardo Ruben. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fil: Coria, Ruben Dario. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santiago del Estero; Argentina. Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina. Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral; Argentina. Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fil: Umaña, Fernando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Área Recursos Naturales. Laboratorio de Teledetección; Argentina. Fil: Raffo, Fernando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche; Argentina. Fil: Gazzotti, Juan Ignacio. Instituto Nacional de tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Agencia de Extensión Rural San Martin de los Andes; Argentina. Fil: De La Peña, Carlos Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Concordia; Argentina. Fil: Wilson, Marcelo German. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná. Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Gestión Ambiental; Argentina. Fil: Gabioud, Emmanuel Adrian. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná. Departamento Recursos Naturales y Gestión Ambiental; Argentina. Fil: Hernandez, Hernan Hector. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Yuto. Agencia de Extensión Rural Tartagal; Argentina. Fil: Canavelli, Sonia Beatriz. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná. Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Gestión Ambiental; Argentina. 2025-09-10T13:32:00Z 2025-09-10T13:32:00Z 2025-07-24 info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/23759 https://vcs.pensoft.net/article/141917/list/9/ Varela SA, Calamari NC, Trinco FD, Diez JP, Weigandt M, Barzán FR, Lezana L, Eclesia RP, López DR, Coria RD, Peri PL, Umaña FJ, Raffo F, Gazzotti JI, de la Peña C, Wilson M, Gabioud E, Hernández H, Canavelli SB (2025) Environmental spatial assessment at ranch scale: a tool for optimizing livestock management in Argentine forests. Vegetation Classification and Survey 6: 163-179. https://doi.org/10.3897/VCS.141917 2683-0671 (online) https://doi.org/10.3897/VCS.141917 eng info:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/2019-PE-E1-I514-001, Manejo de Bosques con Ganadería Integrada (MBGI) info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) application/pdf Pensoft Publishers Vegetation Classification and Survey 6 : 163-179 (2025) |
| spellingShingle | Primary Forests Grazing Remote Sensing Cartography Disturbance Environmental Degradation Bosques Primarios Pastoreo Teledetección Cartografía Disturbios Degradación Ambiental Argentina Rapid Assessment Method (RAM) Environmental Status Native Forests Sustainable Grazing Environmental Health Index (EHI) Método de Evaluación Rápida Estado Ambiental Bosque Nativo Pastoreo Sostenible Indice de Salud Ambiental (EHI) Varela, Santiago Agustin Calamari, Noelia Cecilia Trinco, Fabio Daniel Diez, Juan Pablo Weigandt, Mariana Noemi Barzan, Flavia Romina Lezana, Lucrecia Eclesia, Roxana Paola Lopez, Dardo Ruben Coria, Rubén Darío Peri, Pablo Luis Umaña, Fernando Raffo, Fernando Gazzotti, Juan Ignacio De La Peña, Carlos Alberto Wilson, Marcelo German Gabioud, Emmanuel Adrian Hernandez, Hernan Hector Canavelli, Sonia Beatriz Environmental spatial assessment at ranch scale: a tool for optimizing livestock management in Argentine forests |
| title | Environmental spatial assessment at ranch scale: a tool for optimizing livestock management in Argentine forests |
| title_full | Environmental spatial assessment at ranch scale: a tool for optimizing livestock management in Argentine forests |
| title_fullStr | Environmental spatial assessment at ranch scale: a tool for optimizing livestock management in Argentine forests |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental spatial assessment at ranch scale: a tool for optimizing livestock management in Argentine forests |
| title_short | Environmental spatial assessment at ranch scale: a tool for optimizing livestock management in Argentine forests |
| title_sort | environmental spatial assessment at ranch scale a tool for optimizing livestock management in argentine forests |
| topic | Primary Forests Grazing Remote Sensing Cartography Disturbance Environmental Degradation Bosques Primarios Pastoreo Teledetección Cartografía Disturbios Degradación Ambiental Argentina Rapid Assessment Method (RAM) Environmental Status Native Forests Sustainable Grazing Environmental Health Index (EHI) Método de Evaluación Rápida Estado Ambiental Bosque Nativo Pastoreo Sostenible Indice de Salud Ambiental (EHI) |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/23759 https://vcs.pensoft.net/article/141917/list/9/ https://doi.org/10.3897/VCS.141917 |
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