Pastoralism in paramo environments: Practices, forage, and impact on vegetation in the Cordillera of Merida, Venezuela

An analysis of cattle farming and its impact on vegetation between 3,000 and 4,500 m was conducted in paramo farming communities dedicated to cultivating tuber crops in the Cordillera of Merida, Venezuela. Spatial variation of natural forage, vegetation selection by cattle, the grazing range, and farming practices were studied. The short-term impact of grazing on natural vegetation was investigated using experimental plots in short grassland and rosette-shrub communities. In the highlands of the paramo, the grazing patterns were characterized by intensive use of short grassland on the valley floor and extensive use of rosette-shrub communities on the hillsides which, in turn, were related to the spatial distribution of forage and acceptable ecological conditions for the cattle. The greatest impact on the vegetation was the concentration of grazing in short grasslands and the current grassland composition and distribution may be due to these grazing patterns. However, long-term studies are necessary to evaluate the magnitude of this impact. There is little forage available for recently introduced cattle in the high paramo, especially in the dry period, and fodder is acquired from diverse alternative sources in the agricultural belt. This factor and the need for animal labor in agriculture result in grazing patterns characterized by a great variety of animal movements between ecological zones depending on the resource availability of each family which confers greater spatial-temporal dynamics on grazing patterns. Finally, it is recommended that emphasis is placed on cattle management rather than on the elimination of pastoralism, in order to conserve these fragile ecosystems and to maintain the economy of the agropastoral communities.