Prevent livestock grazing in forests

Overall effectiveness category Trade-off between benefit and harms
Number of studies: 4
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Background information and definitions

Livestock grazing changes the habitat indirectly by changing soil properties and directly by the removal of vegetation. High grazing pressure may change plant diversity mainly by decreasing the abundance of palatable herbaceous species. It can also cause degradation of forest understory and reduce tree regeneration. Moderate grazing has less negative effects and may increasing shrubby vegetation height. Removing livestock grazing from forests may increase species diversity (Rook et al. 2004). Other studies that aim to reduce the detrimental effects of grazing are discussed in ‘Use wire fences within grazing areas to exclude livestock from specific forest sections'.

Rook, A. J., Dumont, B., Isselstein, J., Osoro, K., WallisDeVries, M. F., Parente, G., & Mills, J. (2004) Matching type of livestock to desired biodiversity outcomes in pastures–a review. Biological Conservation, 119, 137-150.‏

Study locations

Key messages

Two of three studies (including one replicated, controlled study) in Brazil, UK and Costa Rica found that preventing livestock grazing increased survival, species richness and diversity of understory plants. One study found mixed effects.
One site comparison study in Israel found that preventing cattle grazing increased the density of oak seedlings and saplings.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A controlled study in 1978-1984 in dry tropical forest in Brazil (De Albuquerque 1999) found that preventing cattle grazing decreased mortality of shrubs but not the density of tree seedlings. The average mortality over two years of five shrub species was higher in grazed (7.7-11.7%) than in ungrazed plots (4.5%). The number of tree seedlings (<0.5 m height) was similar in grazed (1.9-5.2 seedlings/m²) and ungrazed plots (5.8 seedlings/m²). Mortality of five selected shrub species: Lippia microphylla, Croton rhamnifolius, Calliandra depauperata, Cordia leucocephala and Bauhinia cheilantha, was calculated for 1980-1982 and for 1982-1984. Mortality data were collected in 6-10 plots (20 × 5 m) in each of three grazed (0.150, 0.100 and 0.075 cattle/ha) and one ungrazed treatment area (40-100 ha). Density of tree seedlings was determined annually in 1979-1984 in five quadrats (2 x 0.5 m) in each plot.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
De Albuquerque S.G. (1999) Caatinga vegetation dynamics under various grazing intensities by steers in the semi-arid Northeast, Brazil. Journal of Range Management, 241-248.
A site comparison study in 1996 in tropical dry forests in Costa Rica (Stern, Quesada & Stoner 2002) found that preventing livestock grazing increased plant species richness and diversity. The grazed site had lower numbers of species (grazed: 56; ungrazed: 84) and species diversity (Shannon's index grazed: 2.9; ungrazed: 3.5). Species richness and diversity were calculated using 150 individual plants identified along each of six 2 m wide transects in each ungrazed (since 1990) and grazed sites (grazed in May-January by 1.0-1.4 cattle/ha since 1991).
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Stern M., Quesada M. & Stoner K.E. (2002) Changes in composition and structure of a tropical dry forest following intermittent cattle grazing. Revista de Biología Tropical, 50, 1021-1034.
A replicated, controlled study in 2002-2003 in temperate broadleaf forest in Northern Ireland, UK (McEvoy, Flexen & McAdam 2006) found that preventing domestic animal grazing decreased plant species richness but increased the cover of some dominant species. The number of species within small plots (4 m²) was higher in grazed (14.0/4 m² plot) than ungrazed plots (10.5/4 m² plot), while within large plots (196 m²) the number of species (32.3-28.7/196 m² plot) and species diversity (Shannon's index 1.6-1.4) was similar between treatments. Relative cover was lower in grazed than ungrazed plots for: bramble Rubus fruticosus (grazed: 3.9%; ungrazed: 9.6%) and bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta (grazed: 2.5%; ungrazed: 10.1%). Data were collected in 2002-2003 in one small quadrat (2 × 2 m inside 14 × 14 m plot) in each of 52 grazed (sheep, cattle, horses, goats) and 46 ungrazed sites across Northern Ireland (~14,000 km²).
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
McEvoy P., Flexen M. & McAdam J. (2006) The effects of livestock grazing on ground flora in broadleaf woodlands in Northern Ireland. Forest Ecology and Management, 225, 39-50.
A site comparison study in 2002 in subtropical dry forest in Israel (Dufour-Dror 2007) found that preventing cattle grazing increased the density of Tabor oak Quercus ithaburensis seedlings and young saplings. Density of young seedlings (<0.15 m height) and of young saplings (0.2 – 1.0 m height) in the grazed site was lower (seedlings: 4/ha; saplings: 14/ha) than in the ungrazed site (seedlings: 12/ha; saplings: 30/ha). Data were collected in 13 plots (333 m²) established in an ungrazed site (14 ha) and in 33 similar plots established in a grazed site (0.7 cows/ha; 458 ha).
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Dufour-Dror J. (2007) Influence of cattle grazing on the density of oak seedlings and saplings in a Tabor oak forest in Israel. acta oecologica, 31, 223-228.

Please cite as:

Agra, H., Schowanek, S., Carmel, Y., Smith, R.K. & Ne’eman, G. (2020) Forest Conservation. Pages 323-366 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

All the journals searched for all synopses

This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Forest Conservation

Related Actions

Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
Shorten livestock grazing period or control grazing season in forests Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	3	Synopsis Link
Use wire fences within grazing areas to exclude livestock from specific forest sections Action Link	Likely to be beneficial	12	Synopsis Link
Prevent livestock grazing in forests Action Link	Trade-off between benefit and harms	4	Synopsis Link