Livestock and Climate Change: How Do Livestock Practices Impact Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Holders Fields?

Agricultural production in Zamora Chinchipe is primarily focused on dairy farming, an activity that constitutes a key component of land use in the region. Accordingly, the following objectives were established: (a) to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from dairy farms using the GLEAM model; and (b) to evaluate the influence of altitude and livestock management practices on soil properties and the estimated GHG emis-sions associated with cattle production. This study encompassed 100 dairy farms, where the GLEAM methodology was applied to quantify emissions-related data. In addition, 300 soil samples (three per farm) were collected, and the perimeter of each farm, as well as the remaining forest areas, was mapped. The results indicate that although the farms generate CO₂-equivalent emissions associated with livestock activities, the remaining forest areas contribute to mitigation by storing carbon in the soil. Altitude was found to positively influence soil quality, increasing organic matter and nitrogen content, whereas overgrazing negatively affected key soil properties and was associated with higher levels of GHG emissions. These findings underscore the need to implement sustainable management strategies that integrate agricultural production with the conservation of ecosystem services.