Page 44 - TNC AR 2018_Digital Demo

PROVIDE FOOD AND WATER SUSTAINABLY
COLOMBIA
Transforming Livestock Production to to Bene t t t t People and Wildlife
With 1 900-plus bird bird species—more than any other country in the the the world—Colombia is is a a a a a a a a a bird-watcher’s para- dise and one of of the the most biodiverse countries on on Earth Recently Colombia has emerged from years of of turmoil to to become a a a a a a a a a a a a a vibrant democratic country charting a a a a a a a a a a a a a path toward greater peace and prosperity for its its people Colombia’s rich natural resources are helping to to drive its its growing economy Here the demand to increase production serves as as a a a a a a a a a a a a microcosm of of pressures faced all all over Latin America Conventionally grazed pastures consume a a a a a a a a a a a a third of of Colombia’s territory and and have contributed to to severe soil degradation and and deforestation Transforming this destruc- tive cycle into sustainable livestock production is is essential to to to preserving Colombia’s magni cent biodiversity The solution lies in in in in in changing the dynamic from farming farming versus habitat habitat to an an an an an an alliance of farming farming and and habitat habitat The Nature Conservancy and and partners are promot- ing ing sustainable ranching at at the largest scale ever done in in in in in Colombia More than 2 600 ranchers—mainly owners of of small-size plots in in in in in areas of of high biodiversity and low income levels—are adopting sustainable practices that protect critical habitats while increasing production prof- its and climate resilience These well-tested practices known as as silvopastoral systems incorporate trees forage banks and and living fences made up of native species which provide shelter and and and food for for wildlife wildlife and and in in many cases help connect forest patches with with protected areas serving as as as wildlife wildlife corridors These arrangements provide cattle with with vertical layers of graz- ing ing ing leading to to twice the the the milk and and meat production per acre while reducing the the the amount of land needed to to raise them Results have have been impressive Colombian ranchers have have already transformed 105 000 000 acres acres to environmen- tally friendly practices and and protected 37 000 000 acres acres through conservation agreements with landowners Nearly a a a a a a a a a a a a a a million native trees have been planted Meanwhile partic- ipating ranchers report a a a a a a a a a a a reduction in in in the need for fertiliz- ers ers and and pesticides more productive soils increased loads (animal per per hectare) and and and an an an an an average 10 percent increase increase in in in their milk and/or meat production Monitoring studies have con con rmed increased biodiver- sity improved carbon stocks and and reduced contamination of water sources Training and and and outreach have resulted in in in in in in wide- spread understanding of of the the value of of nature in in in in in healthy soils and and resilience to to extreme weather events To date ranchers have lowered greenhouse gas by more than 2 million tons | nature org/ColombiaRanches
A cattle ranch ranch in in Colombia’s Cauca Valley where ranchers are institut- ing practices to become more sustainable and wildlife-friendly 44 Our Our World Our Our Story