The Grazing Livestock of San Jose Llanga: Multiple-Species Resource Use and Management and Productivity of Sheep
Document Type
Contribution to Book
Journal/Book Title
Sustaining Agropastoralism on the Bolivian Altiplano: The Case of San José Llanga
Publisher
Department of Rangeland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, Utah
Publication Date
2001
First Page
163
Last Page
210
Abstract
The main objective of the joint IBTA/SR-CRSP project in Bolivia was to assess the overall role of small ruminants in the ecological and economic sustainability of an agropastoral system. Prominent was a mandate for us to investigate: (1) Whether small ruminants were important contributors to environmental degradation; and (2) whether there were feasible improvements in management that could mitigate negative impacts of small ruminants on natural resources and increase efficiency of animal production (see Chapter 1: Project objectives and research approach). These issues are important in light of recent controversy concerning environmental degradation of the world’s rangelands. On one hand people and livestock are blamed (Sinclair and Fryxell 1985; Cloudsley-Thompson 1988) while on another hand climate, or change in climate, is cited as a key factor (Rasmusson 1987; Ellis and Swift 1988). If livestock are not to blame then efforts to de-stock traditional pastoral systems could be in error (Behnke and Scoones 1991).
Recommended Citation
Coppock, D.L., I.M. Ortega, J. Yazman, J.S. de Queiroz, and H. Alzérreca. (2001). The grazing livestock of San José Llanga: Multiple-species resource use and management and productivity of sheep. Chapter 5 (pages 163-210) in Sustaining Agropastoralism on the Bolivian Altiplano: The Case of San José Llanga (Eds. D.L. Coppock and C. Valdivia). Department of Rangeland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, Utah. 284 pp.
