Productive Livestock Characterization and Recommendations for Good Practices Focused on the Achievement of the SDGs in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Bolier Torres, Verónica Andrade, Marco Heredia-R (), Theofilos Toulkeridis (), Kleber Estupiñán, Marcelo Luna, Carlos Bravo and Antón García
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Bolier Torres: Facultad de Ciencia de la Vida, Universidad Estatal Amazónica (UEA), Pastaza 160101, Ecuador
Verónica Andrade: Carrera Agropecuaria, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena 1 ½ km Vía a Santa Elena, La Libertad 240204, Ecuador
Marco Heredia-R: Facultad de Ciencias Pecuarias y Biológicas, Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo (UTEQ), Quevedo Av. Quito km, 1 ½ Vía a Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Quevedo 120550, Ecuador
Theofilos Toulkeridis: Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra y Construcción, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE, Sangolquí 171103, Ecuador
Kleber Estupiñán: Facultad de Ciencias Pecuarias y Biológicas, Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo (UTEQ), Quevedo Av. Quito km, 1 ½ Vía a Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Quevedo 120550, Ecuador
Marcelo Luna: Facultad de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad Estatal Amazónica (UEA), Puyo 160101, Ecuador
Carlos Bravo: Facultad de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad Estatal Amazónica (UEA), Puyo 160101, Ecuador
Antón García: Animal Science Department, University of Cordoba, Rabanales University Campus, 14071 Cordoba, Spain

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 17, 1-17

Abstract: The increase in livestock production in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region has caused an increase in deforestation and the advance of the agricultural frontier. The aim of the current study was to conduct a socioeconomic and productive characterization in Andean-Amazonian livestock systems in Ecuador. The study area was part of the Sumaco Biosphere Reserve (SBR) and three other zones: low (400 to 700 masl), middle (701 to 1600 masl), and high (701 to 1600 masl). Data were collected from 167 ranching households. There are significant differences ( p ≤ 0.001) in the results. It was identified that 56.1% of the producers in the middle zone are indigenous (Kichwa). The largest ( p ≤ 0.01) average household size (6.7 household members) and the highest level of household heads without schooling (16%) were found in the same area. Heads of households over 54 years of age were reported throughout the gradient. The largest farms were also found in the middle zone, with an average of 62.3 ha, of which an average of 32.9 ha is native forest, 2.1 ha is agricultural land, and 27.2 ha is cattle pasture. The household economy is driven by a greater investment in livestock in the upper area, and therefore their annual gross income has a high impact on their economy. With these results, this study presents recommendations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Keywords: Amazon; livestock income; land use; livestock management; sustainable development goals; Ecuador (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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