Cattle graze peacefully in a Nothofagus antarctica forest, symbolizing sustainable coexistence.

Balancing Act: How Cattle Grazing Can Coexist with Forest Health

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Soraya Malik in Climate & Environment June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover sustainable grazing practices that protect Argentina's Nothofagus forests, ensuring biodiversity and economic stability."


In the Argentinian province of Chubut, the landscape is defined by a delicate balance. Here, extensive cattle rearing, a cornerstone of the local economy, intertwines with the region’s unique Nothofagus antarctica forests, also known as ñire. These silvopastoral systems, where livestock graze under the forest canopy, face a critical challenge: how to reconcile the economic benefits of cattle grazing with the long-term health and sustainability of these precious woodlands.

Cattle browsing can inflict damage on young ñire trees, hindering regeneration and threatening the very existence of these forests. The crux of the matter lies in finding a harmonious middle ground, a management approach that allows both cattle and trees to thrive. Researchers have been diligently investigating this issue, seeking to understand how grazing intensity and tree height influence the regeneration of ñire forests. Their goal? To develop strategies that ensure both sustainable livestock production and the preservation of these vital ecosystems.

This article delves into a compelling study conducted in Chubut, Argentina, examining the effects of cattle browsing on ñire tree regeneration. By exploring the relationship between cattle stocking rates, tree height, and forest health, we uncover valuable insights into achieving a sustainable balance. Join us as we explore the innovative approaches that could safeguard these unique landscapes for generations to come.

The Science of Coexistence: Grazing and Forest Regeneration

Cattle graze peacefully in a Nothofagus antarctica forest, symbolizing sustainable coexistence.

The study, conducted across three livestock rearing settlements in Chubut, focused on how cattle browsing impacts ñire tree regeneration over time, relative to both stocking rate and plant height. The findings reveal that managing cattle under low stocking rates during the summer months (less than 0.4 livestock units per hectare) allows young trees to escape the brunt of browsing, provided they reach a minimum average height of 1.6 meters. Under these conditions, ñire saplings demonstrate a remarkable ability to tolerate grazing, exhibiting compensatory growth to recover from the plant structures removed by cattle.

However, the research also highlighted the detrimental effects of high stocking rates. When cattle graze at higher intensities (more than 0.8 livestock units per hectare) for extended periods, tree regeneration suffers. Saplings become stunted, adopting a shrubby architecture and exhibiting lower growth rates. In such cases, drastic interventions like livestock exclusion become necessary to allow the forest to recover, potentially requiring upwards of 20 years of exclusion to see significant regeneration.

Key findings from the research underscore the importance of careful grazing management:
  • Low stocking rates promote sapling survival.
  • Saplings exhibit compensatory growth under controlled grazing.
  • High stocking rates suppress tree regeneration.
  • Long-term exclusions may be required for recovery in overgrazed areas.
The study underscores that compatibility between livestock production and woodland persistence is possible through carefully managing cattle stocking rates and diligently monitoring sapling height. By adopting these strategies, landowners can ensure the long-term health of their forests while maintaining a viable economic enterprise.

Looking Ahead: Sustainable Land Management in Practice

The insights gleaned from this research offer a pathway towards more sustainable land management practices in the Patagonian region. By implementing adaptive strategies that consider both ecological and economic factors, stakeholders can work together to create resilient landscapes that benefit both nature and local communities. Monitoring sapling height and adjusting stocking rates as needed will be critical to maintaining the delicate balance between cattle grazing and forest health. Ultimately, the future of Chubut’s Nothofagus forests depends on a commitment to sustainable practices that prioritize long-term ecological integrity.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4067/s0717-92002014000300010, Alternate LINK

Title: Efecto Del Ramoneo Bovino En Renovales De Nothofagus Antarctica En Chubut, Argentina, En Relación Con La Carga Ganadera Y La Altura De La Plantas

Subject: Forestry

Journal: Bosque (Valdivia)

Publisher: SciELO Agencia Nacional de Investigacion y Desarrollo (ANID)

Authors: Daniela C Echevarría, Axel R Von Müller, Nidia E Hansen, José O Bava

Published: 2014-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

1

How is sustainable cattle grazing achieved in Argentina's Nothofagus antarctica forests?

In Chubut, Argentina, cattle grazing is balanced with the health of Nothofagus antarctica forests, also known as ñire. It's achieved by understanding how cattle browsing impacts tree regeneration. Key strategies involve managing cattle stocking rates and sapling height. Maintaining low stocking rates, less than 0.4 livestock units per hectare, during the summer allows young trees to grow, and reach a minimum average height of 1.6 meters, where they can then exhibit compensatory growth.

2

What are the effects of high cattle stocking rates on the regeneration of Nothofagus antarctica?

High stocking rates, particularly above 0.8 livestock units per hectare, can severely stunt ñire sapling growth, leading to a shrubby architecture and reduced overall growth rates. Over time, this can prevent forest regeneration, requiring interventions like long-term livestock exclusion to allow the Nothofagus antarctica forest to recover.

3

How do low cattle stocking rates promote the survival of Nothofagus antarctica saplings?

The study in Chubut indicates that managing grazing through low stocking rates, specifically below 0.4 livestock units per hectare, allows ñire saplings to survive and even thrive. These saplings demonstrate compensatory growth when grazing is controlled, meaning they can recover from the browsing. By maintaining low stocking rates and monitoring sapling height, forest health can be promoted.

4

What intervention is required to recover Nothofagus antarctica forests after overgrazing?

When Nothofagus antarctica forests are overgrazed, leading to stunted tree growth and suppressed regeneration, long-term livestock exclusion might be necessary. The study suggests that it can take upwards of 20 years of exclusion to see significant regeneration, during which the landscape recovers without the impact of cattle browsing. Exclusion allows saplings to grow without constant damage.

5

What does sustainable land management in Chubut look like for Nothofagus antarctica forests?

Sustainable land management in Chubut focuses on adaptive strategies that consider both ecological and economic factors. Monitoring sapling height and adjusting cattle stocking rates accordingly are critical for maintaining the balance between cattle grazing and Nothofagus antarctica forest health. This approach supports both the local economy and the biodiversity of the region, ensuring long-term ecological integrity. The approach focuses on a silvopastoral system.

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