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Cattle ranching and deforestation

Year of publication 2007

Author Animal Production and Health Division

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Over the past quarter century, forests have been cleared from an area the size of India. Particularly in Central and South America, expansion of pastures for livestock production has been one of the driving forces behind this wholesale destruction. Deforestation causes incalculable environmental damage, releasing billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and driving thousands of species of life to extinction each year. Effective policies are urgently need ed to discourage expansion of livestock production in forest areas and promote sustainable grazing systems that will halt the cycle of degradation and abandonment on cleared forest lands.

Language English

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