Pastoralismo en zonas áridas de Latinoamérica: Argentina, Chile, México y Perú

Abstract

SummaryThis article discusses various aspects of pastoralism in the Latin Americancountries with the largest dryland areas. The topics covered include: social,economic and institutional issues; grasslands and their carrying capacity;production systems and productivity rates; competition for forage resourcesbetween domestic livestock and wildlife; and the health status of livestock andwildlife. Most grasslands exhibit some degree of degradation. The percentage ofoffspring reaching weaning age is low: 47-66% of calves and 40-80% of lambs.Some pastoralists adopt patterns of transhumance. In the main, pastoralistsexperience a high poverty rate and have poor access to social services. Formany pastoralists, wildlife is a source of food and by-products. Argentina, Chile,Mexico and Peru have animal health control agencies, are members of theWorld Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and have signed the United NationsConvention to Combat Desertification. Pastoral systems subsist mainly on incomeunrelated to pastoral farming. The OIE recognises all four countries as free frominfection with peste des petits ruminants virus, and from rinderpest and Africanhorse sickness. It is difficult to predict the future of pastoralism in Latin Americabecause the situation differs from country to country. For instance, pastoralismis more important in Peru than in Argentina, where it is a more marginal activity.In the future, lack of promotion and protection policies could lead to a decline inpastoralism or to an adverse environmental impact on drylands.