Changes in forest structure modify understory and livestock occurrence along the natural cycle and different management strategies in Nothofagus antarctica forests

MARTÍNEZ PASTUR G.; CELLINI J.M.; CHAVES J.E.; RODRIGUEZ SOUILLA J.; BENÍTEZ J.; ROSAS Y.M.; SOLER R.; LENCINAS M.V.; PERI P.L.

AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2022 vol. 96 p. 1039 - 1052

0167-4366

Sustainable forest management is proposed as a solution for many ecological and socioeconomic trade-ofs associated with diferent forest uses. In Patagonia, silvopastoral systems were proposed to balance provisioning ecosystem services and other natural values. However, the design of these practices needs a better understanding of livestock production. The objective of this study was to determine changes in the understory forage value and livestock occurrence in Nothofagus antarctica forests of Tierra del Fuego (Argentina) growing under a natural dynamic and in stands with impacts generated by harvesting, fres and silvopastoral uses. We sampled 145 areas determining forest structure, understory forage value (cover, biomass, forage quality) and livestock occurrence (wild and domestic stocking rate), including diferent forest conditions: (i) six phases of the natural forest cycle (even- and uneven-aged stands), (ii) four types of management and conversion alternatives (diferent thinning intensities, clear-cuts, and fres), and (iii) three associated environments (forest edges and grasslands). Main results showed that understory cover and biomass did not difer along the natural forest phases, but varied across management alternatives and associated environments. The magnitude of these changes was directly related to the impact degree. Forage quality did not change across the factors and levels. Livestock occurrence is relatedto the observed changes in the understory; however, a diferent behaviour was observed between wild and domestic herbivores. The diferent analyses highlighted the similarities in forage value and livestock occurrence among the diferent natural forest phases, and showed how the stands with diferent impacts difered from the control stands. The outputs could be used to improve forest management strategies in the framework of silvopastoral systems at landscape level.