Unlocking sustainable livestock production potential in the Colombian Amazon through paddock division and gender inclusivity.

Low-emissions livestock production can be achieved through scaling production systems integrating trees, forages, and livestock within the same area. Such systems are known as silvopastoral production systems (SPS). However, despite SPS reported benefits, adoption rates globally remain low. This paper, therefore, aims to inform land use policy oriented towards increasing SPS adoption. This study intends to capture this by assessing SPS adoption benefits, identifying determinants of SPS adoption, and thus to contribute to policy for scaling low-emissions livestock production. Data was collected on socioeconomic status, livestock farming technical and economic indicators, and farm and paddock practices through farm-level surveys in four municipalities in the Amazon Piedmont of Colombia. Unlike previous studies that assume homogeneous farm management, when in fact, it is heterogeneous, this study assessed SPS adoption determinants using the paddock (n = 2819) as the unit of analysis. This methodological approach is consistent with paddock-level land use decisions taken by farmers based on socioeconomic and biophysical factors such as soil financial resources, type, and topography. The methodological approach allows us to provide new insights into the determinant of adopting SPS and an understanding of intra-farm level land use decisions. The results show that the adoption of SPS at both paddocks and farm levels in Caquetá is low. The main factors associated with higher SPS adoption levels at the paddock level are framed in gender, resources, and knowledge. We observe that women are more motivated to conserve the environment. Cattle paddocks managed by women, smaller in size, and those with more SPS-related projects show a tendency for medium or high SPS adoption. Furthermore, the positive relationship between access to credit and SPS adoption emphasizes the importance of financial resources tailored to SPS projects. Enhancing gender roles, improving access to finance in land use, and providing training programs on SPS systems can contribute to low-emission livestock production in Colombia. This research paper highlights the significance of implementing diverse management strategies and reaching out to farmers not involved in SPS projects. It emphasizes investments in low-emission livestock production, especially for female heads of households. This approach recognizes the broader benefits of SPS, beyond production and financial gains, promoting the division of paddocks and the adoption of SPS.

Has global deforestation accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, questions arose as to whether the pandemic would amplify or pacify tropical deforestation. Early reports warned of increased deforestation rates; however, these studies were limited to a few months in 2020 or to selected regions. To better understand how the pandemic influenced tropical deforestation globally, this study used historical deforestation data (2004-2019) from the Terra-i pantropical land cover change monitoring system to project expected deforestation trends for 2020, which were used to determine whether observed deforestation deviated from expected trajectories after the first COVID-19 cases were reported. Time series analyses were conducted at the regional level for the Americas, Africa and Asia and at the country level for Brazil, Colombia, Peru, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia. Our results suggest that the pandemic did not alter the course of deforestation trends in some countries (e.g., Brazil, Indonesia), while it did in others (e.g., Peru). We posit the importance of monitoring the long-term effects of the pandemic on deforestation trends as countries prioritize economic recovery in the aftermath of the pandemic. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11676-022-01561-7.

Understanding systemic land use dynamics in conflict-affected territories: The cases of Cesar and Caquetá, Colombia.

In the Colombian context, disputes over natural resources, mainly over land, and poor governance are intertwined with armed conflict. Although efforts to address this situation, including the 2016 peace agreement signed between Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC, by Spanish acronym) are underway, these disputes continue, affecting land use dynamics. Understanding the complexity and trends in land use conflicts, as well as the specific regional characteristics underlying differing land use changes across regions, is critical. This article aims to systematically understand land use dynamics in two contrasting and conflict-affected territories in Colombia, Caquetá and Cesar, thus identifying entry points to address land-use conflicts at the regional level. To address the complexity of each regional case, we apply a methodology based on system thinking to capture the interconnections between socio-economic and environmental system components and their land use dynamics. Results depicted through causal loop diagrams not just show the cascade of environmental, social, and economic failures resulting from land use changes in these two conflict-affected territories but also suggest that land tenure systems innovations and the promotion of sustainable land use interventions at the regional level can reverse the consequences of the land use changes. Thus, future actions addressing land use conflicts must be context-dependent, tackling the root and structural causes.