Determinants of change on extensive livestock systems: a theoretical framework

• Author(s): Moreira, Manuel Belo ; Coelho, Inocencio Seita
• Date: 2010
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/3550
• Origin: Repositório da UTL
• Subject(s): livestock; extensive systems; grazing systems; Baixo Alentejo
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

The framework proposed in this paper results from a research conducted in the Lacope project1 and particularly, the field study of the extensive grazing systems of the Baixo Alentejo – southern Portugal2. This paper constitutes an attempt to enlarge this perspective in order to respond to different typologies of extensive grazing systems that could cover most of the existing pastoral systems3. Nevertheless, we are aware that the proposed framework could fit better some systems than others, and it certainly demands further development and precision when used to study concrete situations, looking for enrichment from subsequent contributions. In addition we want to underline that the aim of this framework goes well beyond the scope of a simple academic enquiry, since we are convinced that it could be a useful tool not only to understand what is at stake but also to inform policies needed to assure the sustainability of the most fragile of these systems. Furthermore, the proposed framework also seeks to highlight the most relevant interactions between aspects that are addressed by different academic fields that usually do not engage in a permanent dialogue, even when they do not completely ignore each other. In section 2 we will provide a description of the methodology, namely the typology of the grazing systems. In section 3 we will focus on the proposed framework relying on a systems approach. Finally some concluding remarks will be made in section 4.