Increasing connectivity and biodiversity conservation in livestock dominated

landscapes: the BioPaSOS project

Martínez-Salinas, Alejandra1; Jiménez-Trujillo, José Antonio1; Messa Arboleda, Héctor Fabio1; Pérez, Edwin1; Sepúlveda L., Claudia J.1

1CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica

Keywords: Livestock, biodiversity, México, agroforestry, connectivity

Why?

Increasing habitat connectivity in livestock dominated landscapes is critical to

secure wildlife populations viability in the long-term. The project Scaling up

biodiversity conservation through climate-smart agrosilvopastoral practices in

landscapes dominated by cattle-raising systems in three regions of Mexico known as

BioPaSOS, aims at improving biodiversity conservation through the promotion of

agroforestry practices such as live fences and trees in pastures (Fig. 1), that increase

connectivity while improving habitat quality for wildlife and farm productivity.

Where and How?

BioPaSOS is implementing actions in three intervention territories located in the

Mexican states of Jalisco, Chiapas and Campeche, considered hotspots for

biodiversity conservation and where livestock production is dominant. Promotion of

agroforestry practices is conducted via learning communities which integrate

multiple actors through a series of activities involving capacity building, research

and interaction with the private sector (Fig. 2).

Capacity building activities targeting cattle ranchers are developed via Farmers

Field Schools (FFS), and currently include over 1200 cattle rancher families [400

per implementing territory]. FFS sessions are defined following farmers needs and

are complemented by BioPaSOS goal to promote biodiversity conservation through

agroforestry practices that can contribute to increase connectivity, habitat quality

and farm productivity (Fig. 3).

Figure 1. Livestock benefitting from the shade produced by live fences and

shrubs/trees in pastures. Campeche, México. Proyecto BioPaSOS.

Figure 2. Schematic depicting the different elements that integrate BioPaSOS

Learning Communities. (1) Capacity building activities implemented with cattle

ranchers and technical staff from local partner organizations, (2) research agenda

developed in collaboration with local research institutes, and (3) the interaction with

the private sector. Proyecto BioPaSOS.

BioPaSOS works in collaboration with multiple local partners from government and

non-government organizations including state and federal government agencies,

cattle rancher associations, research-oriented entities [Universities and Research

Centers] and the private sector, all to promote agroforestry practices that can help

increase the biodiversity conservation value of these livestock dominated

landscapes.

Figure 3. Cattle ranchers participating in Farmers Field School sessions. Campeche,

México. Proyecto BioPaSOS.

Outreach and public resources

The BioPaSOS project has created and made available to the public a series of

resources related to livestock production and biodiversity conservation. These

resources are available through the project web site http://www.biopasos.com and

include a large information repository, virtual forums discussing topics related to

livestock production and biodiversity conservation, among others (Fig. 4).

Figure 4. Proyecto BioPaSOS web site.