Invited paper Biodiversity in livestock systems: measuring, managing and valuing

Abstract

The conservation of biodiversity in pastoral ecosystems is a priority within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals and the growing interest in sustainable production systems. In Uruguay, where most of the territory is dedicated to livestock farming, conservation efforts largely fall on the productive sector. This work synthesizes research and co-innovation experiences developed by INIA in partnership with institutional and private stakeholders, applying FAO/LEAP guidelines and proprietary methodologies, such as the Ecosystem Integrity Index (EII). More than 80 livestock farms were assessed using indicators covering habitat protection and changes, conservation of flora and fauna, invasive species, aquatic biodiversity, external feed inputs, and landscape-scale conservation. Results show high biological richness, including priority species for conservation, and demonstrate that native grassland-based systems maintain valuable habitats and essential ecosystem services. The application of LEAP indicators made it possible to characterize ecosystem status and guide management, although some indicators proved costly and required high specialization. The need for continuous monitoring and the establishment of reference farm networks for biodiversity tracking is emphasized. The soil component revealed an average soil organic carbon stock of 82 Mg C/ha, with a decrease in content with depth and no significant differences between soil categories within the same stratum. Finally, progress is being made toward the commercial valorization of products from regenerative systems, particularly in the wool sector, and toward the development of verifiable standards for “nature-positive” livestock certification, integrating conservation and long-term profitability.