Conservation and Cattle Production: Improving the Matrix Through Silvopasture

Conversion of Nicaragua’s tropical dry forest to cattle pasture has left a highly heterogeneous landscape where pasture is maintained against forest succession. Climate change threatens to exacerbate these divisions between conservation and agriculture by drying up limited water sources for cattle and endemic species alike. Our client, Paso Pacífico, was interested in researching the potential of silvopastoral practices in the Rivas Isthmus of Nicaragua. Silvopastoralism combines the interests of cattle ranchers and conservationists by improving cattle production through multifunctional afforestation measures and alternative pasture management practices. This work builds on the previous Master’s work on living fence rows (Dorgay, Muelle & Klooster 2016) in Nicaraguan cattle ranches by focusing on the impact of isolated trees in pastures on non-migratory birds, pasture and cattle health. This is the first study to combine these elements of the pastoral agroecosystem with a survey of farmer perceptions into an interdisciplinary study. We began our study with a literature review of studies concerning isolated tree impacts and silvopastoral practices. We then visited 17 cattle ranches in order to complete observational studies of native birds, measurements of pasture quality and cattle health, and semi-structured interviews with farm managers or landowners. As a result, we found that non-migratory bird visits are positively correlated with isolated trees with wide and sparse canopies and available fruit. The isolated trees were also found to have suppressed pasture grass growth yet maintain overall nutrient content underneath their canopies. However at the farm-scale, we found no correlation between the overall tree cover on ranches and cattle health suggesting supplemental feed by the trees and farmers. Overall, farmers viewed isolated trees as beneficial to cattle production and the environment. The culmination of our work is a set of recommendations to develop a culture of silvopastoral practices. The case for planting additional trees on private pasture land is supported by the evidence of lack of natural tree replacement and widely recognized benefits for cattle. By approaching incremental afforestation of cattle ranches at the landscape level, Paso Pacífico can maintain tree species diversity while incorporating farmer preference in tree plantings. Within any resulting afforestation program, a particular focus on preserving trees with wide canopies, fruiting trees, and dying or dead trees in place will preserve an unique set of resources for native birds. Finally, we recommend that future research and program design build on these studies of living fence rows and isolated trees to investigate the specific influence of socioeconomic factors and the conservation impacts of silvopastoral practices for a diversity of taxa.Master of ScienceNatural Resources and EnvironmentUniversity of Michiganhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136578/1/311_Conservation&Cattle.pd

Words Volume 1 2007-2009

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Do Socioeconomic Factors Drive \u3ci\u3eAedes\u3c/i\u3e Mosquito Vectors and Their Arboviral Diseases? A Systematic Review of Dengue, Chikungunya, Yellow Fever, and Zika Virus

© 2020 The Authors. As the threat of arboviral diseases continues to escalate worldwide, the question of, “What types of human communities are at the greatest risk of infection?” persists as a key gap in the existing knowledge of arboviral diseases transmission dynamics. Here, we comprehensively review the existing literature on the socioeconomic drivers of the most common Aedes mosquito-borne diseases and Aedes mosquito presence/abundance. We reviewed a total of 182 studies on dengue viruses (DENV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), yellow fever virus (YFVV), Zika virus (ZIKV), and presence of Aedes mosquito vectors. In general, associations between socioeconomic conditions and both Aedes-borne diseases and Aedes mosquitoes are highly variable and often location-specific. Although 50% to 60% of studies found greater presence or prevalence of disease or vectors in areas with lower socioeconomic status, approximately half of the remaining studies found either positive or null associations. We discuss the possible causes of this lack of conclusiveness as well as the implications it holds for future research and prevention efforts. As the threat of arboviral diseases continues to escalate worldwide, the question of, “What types of human communities are at the greatest risk of infection?” persists as a key gap in the existing knowledge of arboviral diseases transmission dynamics. Here, we comprehensively review the existing literature on the socioeconomic drivers of the most common Aedes mosquito-borne diseases and Aedes mosquito presence/abundance. We reviewed a total of 182 studies on dengue viruses (DENV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), yellow fever virus (YFVV), Zika virus (ZIKV), and presence of Aedes mosquito vectors. In general, associations between socioeconomic conditions and both Aedes-borne diseases and Aedes mosquitoes are highly variable and often location-specific. Although 50% to 60% of studies found greater presence or prevalence of disease or vectors in areas with lower socioeconomic status, approximately half of the remaining studies found either positive or null associations. We discuss the possible causes of this lack of conclusiveness as well as the implications it holds for future research and prevention efforts