Identification and Assessment of Livestock Best Management Practices (BMPs) Using the REDD+ Approach in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Deforestation is a severe threat to diversity in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region (EAR). To mitigate deforestation, it is necessary to know the relevant stakeholders’ roles and interactions and deepen our knowledge of the local livelihoods, objectives, potentials, limitations, and “rights of being” amon...

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Main Authors: Bolier Torres, David Eche, Yenny Torres, Carlos Bravo, Christian Velasco, Antón García
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
Series:Agronomy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/7/1336
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author Bolier Torres
David Eche
Yenny Torres
Carlos Bravo
Christian Velasco
Antón García
author_facet Bolier Torres
David Eche
Yenny Torres
Carlos Bravo
Christian Velasco
Antón García
author_sort Bolier Torres
collection DOAJ
description Deforestation is a severe threat to diversity in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region (EAR). To mitigate deforestation, it is necessary to know the relevant stakeholders’ roles and interactions and deepen our knowledge of the local livelihoods, objectives, potentials, limitations, and “rights of being” among farms, as well as the best management practices (BMPs). In this study, our aim was to identify and assess livestock BMPs along an elevational gradient to foster sustainable production and reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). This approach could be environmentally and economically beneficial. Data were collected from 167 households along three elevational gradients, as well as from 15 interviews held among a multidisciplinary panel of key stakeholders and researchers in the EAR. The results showed that most of the Kichwa population lives in the medium zone, which features a larger agricultural and forest surface. Conversely, in the lower and upper areas, livestock predominates, where the upper area is specialized in milk production and the lower area in dual-purpose cattle (meat and dairy). The stakeholder assessment provided several key results: (a) social, structural, and technical factors have complementary effects on BMP adoption; (b) the sixteen assessed BMPs facilitated the implementation of existing financial incentive programs and enabled public–private partnerships to develop REDD+ projects. The policy implications of implementing these approaches are also discussed.
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spelling doaj.art-c6510ce6dadb4b418b18133f9ce919292023-11-22T02:23:06ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952021-06-01117133610.3390/agronomy11071336Identification and Assessment of Livestock Best Management Practices (BMPs) Using the REDD+ Approach in the Ecuadorian AmazonBolier Torres0David Eche1Yenny Torres2Carlos Bravo3Christian Velasco4Antón García5Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Estatal Amazónica (UEA), Pastaza 160101, EcuadorUniversidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, vía Tena-Muyuna Km 7, Tena 150150, EcuadorDepartment of Animal Production, Quevedo State Technical University, Av. Quito km, 1 1/2 vía a Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Quevedo 120501, EcuadorFacultad de Ciencia de la Tierra, Universidad Estatal Amazónica, Pastaza 160101, EcuadorCorporación para el Desarrollo Sostenible, Conservación y Cambio Climático (DSC), Tena 150150, EcuadorDepartment of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Cordoba, 14071 Córdoba, SpainDeforestation is a severe threat to diversity in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region (EAR). To mitigate deforestation, it is necessary to know the relevant stakeholders’ roles and interactions and deepen our knowledge of the local livelihoods, objectives, potentials, limitations, and “rights of being” among farms, as well as the best management practices (BMPs). In this study, our aim was to identify and assess livestock BMPs along an elevational gradient to foster sustainable production and reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). This approach could be environmentally and economically beneficial. Data were collected from 167 households along three elevational gradients, as well as from 15 interviews held among a multidisciplinary panel of key stakeholders and researchers in the EAR. The results showed that most of the Kichwa population lives in the medium zone, which features a larger agricultural and forest surface. Conversely, in the lower and upper areas, livestock predominates, where the upper area is specialized in milk production and the lower area in dual-purpose cattle (meat and dairy). The stakeholder assessment provided several key results: (a) social, structural, and technical factors have complementary effects on BMP adoption; (b) the sixteen assessed BMPs facilitated the implementation of existing financial incentive programs and enabled public–private partnerships to develop REDD+ projects. The policy implications of implementing these approaches are also discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/7/1336biosphere reserveEcuadorian AmazonpasturerestorationREDD+
spellingShingle Bolier Torres
David Eche
Yenny Torres
Carlos Bravo
Christian Velasco
Antón García
Identification and Assessment of Livestock Best Management Practices (BMPs) Using the REDD+ Approach in the Ecuadorian Amazon
Agronomy
biosphere reserve
Ecuadorian Amazon
pasture
restoration
REDD+
title Identification and Assessment of Livestock Best Management Practices (BMPs) Using the REDD+ Approach in the Ecuadorian Amazon
title_full Identification and Assessment of Livestock Best Management Practices (BMPs) Using the REDD+ Approach in the Ecuadorian Amazon
title_fullStr Identification and Assessment of Livestock Best Management Practices (BMPs) Using the REDD+ Approach in the Ecuadorian Amazon
title_full_unstemmed Identification and Assessment of Livestock Best Management Practices (BMPs) Using the REDD+ Approach in the Ecuadorian Amazon
title_short Identification and Assessment of Livestock Best Management Practices (BMPs) Using the REDD+ Approach in the Ecuadorian Amazon
title_sort identification and assessment of livestock best management practices bmps using the redd approach in the ecuadorian amazon
topic biosphere reserve
Ecuadorian Amazon
pasture
restoration
REDD+
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/7/1336
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