Assessing the sustainability of silvopasture systems

Abstract

As the negative effects of conventional agricultural practices on ecosystems intensify, discourse is turning to more sustainable production systems. Silvopasture, an agroecological practice involving the integration of trees, forage, and livestock, has been proposed as one option to enhance agroecological and community resiliency in the face of climate change. Considerable research has been published on silvopasture systems but attempts to summarize the ecological, productive, and social trade-offs of these systems in review format are few or limited to one dimension of sustainability. In order to fill this gap, a systematic review was carried out, and 267 peer-reviewed publications on silvopasture and other integrated pastoral systems were compiled. Although definitions of sustainability vary, the findings from those publications are summarized according to the three broadest categories: environmental impacts, economics and performance, and social implications for the longevity of these systems. We hope that the information presented in this article will deepen the discourse around silvopasture sustainability, highlight gaps in our understanding, and call attention to endangered traditional silvopasture systems across the globe.