The effects of climate change are being felt globally. No longer a problem for the future, the planet is already experiencing predicted changes such as rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and stronger heat waves. The public continues to face general uncertainty about how to contribute to effective change.
But, research proves livestock production has substantially contributed to the climate crisis. And while eating less meat and consuming more plant-based protein has the potential to significantly improve the planet’s circumstances, the predicament of how to more sustainably produce livestock might be solved by silvopasture.
What Is Silvopasture?
Silvopasture is a form of agroforestry best described as the deliberate integration of trees, natural forages, and livestock on the same landscape. The practice of silvopasture can support carbon sequestration and storage in soils and biomass, as well as lower carbon emissions. Executed in over 500 million acres of land globally, silvopasture is highly maintained and regulated. Recent research suggests that silvopasture landscapes sequester five-to-ten times as much carbon when compared to pastures without trees.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has laid out specific trees and foliage by region in the United States that are considered suitable for silvopasture. For example, in the Northeast United States, black locusts, black walnut, and other hardwood trees are considered appropriate trees in a silvopasture landscape.
According to the Virginia Cooperative Extension, there are four key principles to a productive silvopasture. These principles state a silvopasture must be intentional, intensive, integrated, and interactive. These guidelines are in place to ensure that silvopasture landscapes are extensively maintained, planned, and managed. A silvopasture that does not meet these qualifications can yield unprecedented negative outcomes regarding the health of livestock and the environment.
How Livestock Production Contributes To Climate Change
Although seemingly more and more people are committing to vegetarian diets, the demand for beef products is forecast to rise a staggering 47% by 2030 in China alone. Livestock production contributes to the climate crisis in various forms. For example, in 2009, 80% of the deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest was caused by sourcing land for cattle ranching.
Deforestation has contributed to mass deaths of wildlife, as well as species endangerment and extinction. Deforestation also is responsible for releasing billions of tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. Another problem that livestock poses is the high level of methane emissions. Methane traps heat in the air and contributes significantly to climate change. Methane from livestock is responsible for 20% of total methane emissions worldwide.
How Can Silvopasture Benefit The Environment?
Since trees are a natural carbon sink, farmland that utilizes the silvopasture practice is capable of using natural resources to sequester CO2 emissions. Reducing carbon emissions associated with livestock production is a critical element of silvopasture because the amount of carbon dioxide given off per pound of beef is believed to be greater than that of burning a gallon of gasoline.
A maintained silvopasture typically includes native pasture grasses and the practice of rotational grazing periods to ensure the landscape has time to urge proper plant growth. The undisturbed forage protects soil from erosion, improves water quality, increases wildlife diversity, and can improve soil qualities by adding organic material. Both the rotational grazing practice of silvopasture landscapes and the preservation of natural landscaping minimize damage to trees.
Do Farmers And Their Livestock Benefit From Silvopasture?
One of the main advantages of silvopasture landscaping is the reduction of heat stress on livestock with the use of shade. This can improve the livestock’s quality of life as well as ensure better performance. Potential livestock choices include cattle, horses, chickens, sheep, goats, turkeys, ostriches, emu, and game animals such as deer and elk.
Farmers can experience a more diversified source of income from silvopasture. With the preservation of natural forages, farmers have the ability to maintain and profit off of natural elements of the landscape, such as timber, nuts, and fruits. In addition, the extensive management of silvopasture landscapes creates a multitude of new jobs that are generally unnecessary when considering a typical pasture.
With not only the environmental impact but the economic benefits, it is expected that natural practices such as silvopasture will grow substantially in the near future. In the United States, natural climate solutions have the potential to sequester 500 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, which makes up approximately 7% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from 2019.
Key Takeaways
Methane from livestock is responsible for 20% of total methane emissions worldwide.
Silvopasture is the practice of intentionally integrating natural forages and trees into livestock pastures.
Silvopasture maintains natural carbon sinks and has the ability to lower CO2 emissions from livestock production.
The undisturbed forage protects soil from erosion, improves water quality, increases wildlife diversity, and can improve soil qualities.
Farmers and farming communities can benefit economically on a significant level with the adoption of the silvopasture practice.
The effects of climate change are being felt globally. No longer a problem for the future, the planet is already experiencing predicted changes such as rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and stronger heat waves. The public continues to face general uncertainty about how to contribute to effective change.
But, research proves livestock production has substantially contributed to the climate crisis. And while eating less meat and consuming more plant-based protein has the potential to significantly improve the planet’s circumstances, the predicament of how to more sustainably produce livestock might be solved by silvopasture.
The effects of climate change are being felt globally. No longer a problem for the future, the planet is already experiencing predicted changes such as rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and stronger heat waves. The public continues to face general uncertainty about how to contribute to effective change.
But, research proves livestock production has substantially contributed to the climate crisis. And while eating less meat and consuming more plant-based protein has the potential to significantly improve the planet’s circumstances, the predicament of how to more sustainably produce livestock might be solved by silvopasture.
What Is Silvopasture?
Silvopasture is a form of agroforestry best described as the deliberate integration of trees, natural forages, and livestock on the same landscape. The practice of silvopasture can support carbon sequestration and storage in soils and biomass, as well as lower carbon emissions. Executed in over 500 million acres of land globally, silvopasture is highly maintained and regulated. Recent research suggests that silvopasture landscapes sequester five-to-ten times as much carbon when compared to pastures without trees.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has laid out specific trees and foliage by region in the United States that are considered suitable for silvopasture. For example, in the Northeast United States, black locusts, black walnut, and other hardwood trees are considered appropriate trees in a silvopasture landscape.
According to the Virginia Cooperative Extension, there are four key principles to a productive silvopasture. These principles state a silvopasture must be intentional, intensive, integrated, and interactive. These guidelines are in place to ensure that silvopasture landscapes are extensively maintained, planned, and managed. A silvopasture that does not meet these qualifications can yield unprecedented negative outcomes regarding the health of livestock and the environment.
How Livestock Production Contributes To Climate Change
Although seemingly more and more people are committing to vegetarian diets, the demand for beef products is forecast to rise a staggering 47% by 2030 in China alone. Livestock production contributes to the climate crisis in various forms. For example, in 2009, 80% of the deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest was caused by sourcing land for cattle ranching.
Deforestation has contributed to mass deaths of wildlife, as well as species endangerment and extinction. Deforestation also is responsible for releasing billions of tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. Another problem that livestock poses is the high level of methane emissions. Methane traps heat in the air and contributes significantly to climate change. Methane from livestock is responsible for 20% of total methane emissions worldwide.
How Can Silvopasture Benefit The Environment?
Since trees are a natural carbon sink, farmland that utilizes the silvopasture practice is capable of using natural resources to sequester CO2 emissions. Reducing carbon emissions associated with livestock production is a critical element of silvopasture because the amount of carbon dioxide given off per pound of beef is believed to be greater than that of burning a gallon of gasoline.
A maintained silvopasture typically includes native pasture grasses and the practice of rotational grazing periods to ensure the landscape has time to urge proper plant growth. The undisturbed forage protects soil from erosion, improves water quality, increases wildlife diversity, and can improve soil qualities by adding organic material. Both the rotational grazing practice of silvopasture landscapes and the preservation of natural landscaping minimize damage to trees.
Do Farmers and Their Livestock Benefit From Silvopasture?
One of the main advantages of silvopasture landscaping is the reduction of heat stress on livestock with the use of shade. This can improve the livestock’s quality of life as well as ensure better performance. Potential livestock choices include cattle, horses, chickens, sheep, goats, turkeys, ostriches, emu, and game animals such as deer and elk.
Farmers can experience a more diversified source of income from silvopasture. With the preservation of natural forages, farmers have the ability to maintain and profit off of natural elements of the landscape, such as timber, nuts, and fruits. In addition, the extensive management of silvopasture landscapes creates a multitude of new jobs that are generally unnecessary when considering a typical pasture.
With not only the environmental impact but the economic benefits, it is expected that natural practices such as silvopasture will grow substantially in the near future. In the United States, natural climate solutions have the potential to sequester 500 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, which makes up approximately 7% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from 2019.
Key Takeaways
Methane from livestock is responsible for 20% of total methane emissions worldwide.
Silvopasture is the practice of intentionally integrating natural forages and trees into livestock pastures.
Silvopasture maintains natural carbon sinks and has the ability to lower CO2 emissions from livestock production.
The undisturbed forage protects soil from erosion, improves water quality, increases wildlife diversity, and can improve soil qualities.
Farmers and farming communities can benefit economically on a significant level with the adoption of the silvopasture practice.