Recovery and management strategies for degraded semiarid rangelands of central Argentina

DISTEL, R.A.

Buenos Aires

Conferencia; UNCCD First Scientific Conference; 2009

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

Semiarid rangelands of central Argentina have suffered from severe overexploitation by grazing, resulting in degradation of both vegetation and soil. These changes are often difficult to revert due to positive feedbacks that lead to alternative stable ecosystem states. In this paper I analyze and discuss recovery and management strategies for the sustainable use of such ecosystems. The analysis point out that fire, in combination with grazer control and periods of favorable rainfall, could be used to restore and maintain a sustainable use of semiarid rangelands.