Sustainable ranching and restoring forests in agricultural landscapes, Panama

Background

Conventional cattle ranching in Panama has led to significant ecological issues, including loss of biodiversity, soil degradation, decreased ecosystem services, and more. This article highlights the experiences of Asociación de Productores Pecuarios y Agro-silvopastoriles de Pedasí (APASPE), a local cattle ranching association pioneering sustainable cattle ranching techniques, along with the capacity building and financial support provided by the Environmental Leadership and Training Initiatives (ELTI) based at Yale University. 

Conclusions & Takeaways

The paper reviews the large Panamanian context and then highlights APASPE's journey to sustainable techniques and the role that ELTI played. The authors draw attention to three main findings: local grassroots environmental leaders are crucial to developing loca interest and enthusiasm for sustainable land management; during initial stages, local producers require on-going support via capacity building and leadership development; and organzing farmer-to-farmer learning allows participants to share their experiences with others, allowing for an continued expansion of the practice.