Disentangling the Multidimensional Relationship between Livestock Breeds and Ecosystem Services
There is an increasing interest in assessing livestock breed contributions to ecosystem services (ES) and including this knowledge in decision making. However, this task has been limited due to the complexity of the multidimensional relationship between livestock diversity and ecosystem services. In...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/9/2548 |
| _version_ | 1797520543313821696 |
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| author | Elena Velado-Alonso Antonio Gómez-Sal Alberto Bernués Daniel Martín-Collado |
| author_facet | Elena Velado-Alonso Antonio Gómez-Sal Alberto Bernués Daniel Martín-Collado |
| author_sort | Elena Velado-Alonso |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There is an increasing interest in assessing livestock breed contributions to ecosystem services (ES) and including this knowledge in decision making. However, this task has been limited due to the complexity of the multidimensional relationship between livestock diversity and ecosystem services. In this work, we elaborate on the livestock breed characteristics central to developing a comprehensive approach to livestock breed inclusion in the ecosystem services framework. Thus, we explore the multidimensional nature of livestock breeds, i.e., as eco-cultural entities, biodiversity components, and drivers of livestock system heterogeneity and functioning. First, anthropogenic and natural factors have acted jointly to develop breeds as eco-cultural entities. This fact represents an opportunity to move toward farming system sustainability by Nature-Based Solutions and Nature’s Contribution to People paradigms. Second, livestock breeds are components of biodiversity, and as such, can be framed as goods, as final ecosystem services, and as regulators of ecosystem processes. Third, livestock breeds contribute to livestock system heterogeneity and resilience. By integrating these aspects, we might better understand how livestock breeds provide and modulate ecosystem service provision and, therefore, how to improve breed conservation and livestock policies toward farming system sustainability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:58:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a17f3202495e40f3aa0d94b60097f2c5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:58:17Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-a17f3202495e40f3aa0d94b60097f2c52023-11-22T11:41:47ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-08-01119254810.3390/ani11092548Disentangling the Multidimensional Relationship between Livestock Breeds and Ecosystem ServicesElena Velado-Alonso0Antonio Gómez-Sal1Alberto Bernués2Daniel Martín-Collado3Departamento de Ecología Integrativa, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), C/Américo Vespucio 26, Isla de la Cartuja, 41092 Sevilla, SpainGloCEE—Global Change Ecology and Evolution Group, Department of Life Sciences, Universidad de Alcalá, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona Km 33.600, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, SpainUnidad de Producción y Sanidad Animal, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), Avda. Montañana 930, 50059 Zaragoza, SpainUnidad de Producción y Sanidad Animal, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), Avda. Montañana 930, 50059 Zaragoza, SpainThere is an increasing interest in assessing livestock breed contributions to ecosystem services (ES) and including this knowledge in decision making. However, this task has been limited due to the complexity of the multidimensional relationship between livestock diversity and ecosystem services. In this work, we elaborate on the livestock breed characteristics central to developing a comprehensive approach to livestock breed inclusion in the ecosystem services framework. Thus, we explore the multidimensional nature of livestock breeds, i.e., as eco-cultural entities, biodiversity components, and drivers of livestock system heterogeneity and functioning. First, anthropogenic and natural factors have acted jointly to develop breeds as eco-cultural entities. This fact represents an opportunity to move toward farming system sustainability by Nature-Based Solutions and Nature’s Contribution to People paradigms. Second, livestock breeds are components of biodiversity, and as such, can be framed as goods, as final ecosystem services, and as regulators of ecosystem processes. Third, livestock breeds contribute to livestock system heterogeneity and resilience. By integrating these aspects, we might better understand how livestock breeds provide and modulate ecosystem service provision and, therefore, how to improve breed conservation and livestock policies toward farming system sustainability.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/9/2548livestock breedecosystem servicesbiodiversitylivestock systemsnature’s contributions to peoplenature-based solutions |
| spellingShingle | Elena Velado-Alonso Antonio Gómez-Sal Alberto Bernués Daniel Martín-Collado Disentangling the Multidimensional Relationship between Livestock Breeds and Ecosystem Services Animals livestock breed ecosystem services biodiversity livestock systems nature’s contributions to people nature-based solutions |
| title | Disentangling the Multidimensional Relationship between Livestock Breeds and Ecosystem Services |
| title_full | Disentangling the Multidimensional Relationship between Livestock Breeds and Ecosystem Services |
| title_fullStr | Disentangling the Multidimensional Relationship between Livestock Breeds and Ecosystem Services |
| title_full_unstemmed | Disentangling the Multidimensional Relationship between Livestock Breeds and Ecosystem Services |
| title_short | Disentangling the Multidimensional Relationship between Livestock Breeds and Ecosystem Services |
| title_sort | disentangling the multidimensional relationship between livestock breeds and ecosystem services |
| topic | livestock breed ecosystem services biodiversity livestock systems nature’s contributions to people nature-based solutions |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/9/2548 |
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