MASSIFICATION OF SILVOPASTORAL SYSTEMS: A LONG AND WINDING ROAD

Abstract

Background: The global community has recognized silvopastoral systems (SPS) as an alternative to contribute to the resolution of various socio-environmental problems derived from extensive livestock farming, deforestation, climate change and the current pandemic derived from SARS-CoV-2. Its technical and social viability has motivated various sectors of society to promote its massification or scaling. However, although there are important advances in agroforestry and silvopastoral scientific research in southeastern Mexico, there are no works that address the experiences of massification of silvopastoral systems. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the experiences of massification of various projects of SSP, the participation of social actors and the barriers and trade-offs in their implementation in the state of Chiapas (Mexico). Methodology: The study considered an analysis period from 2000 to 2020. A review of scientific and technical documents was made, various social actors were interviewed (livestock producers, technicians from international and national development agencies, technicians and advisers from peasant organizations, technicians from non-governmental organizations, academics from research centers and universities) who have promoted SPS and good livestock practices in Chiapas. Two participatory workshops were held. Results. A timeline was built and five relevant experiences of massification of SPS in various agroecological regions of Chiapas were analyzed: a) Scolel Té Project, b) Puyacatengo Agreement (Red Selva), c) Sustainable Rural Development Project in Biological Corridors , d) Innovative mechanisms for a cooperation program towards adaptation to climate change in the Sierra Madre and Costa de Chiapas, e) Early Action Initiatives for Mitigation in livestock areas (IAT-REDD +) and e) Agrosilvopastoral Biodiversity and Livestock Landscapes Project Sustainable (BioPaSOS). Various socio-environmental barriers and alliances between multiple social actors are shown. Implications: The work makes a contribution to the historicity of the massification processes of SPS and to the process of change in livestock. It is necessary to continue with an in-depth analysis of the social and technological impact that the various massification initiatives shown have had.  Conclusions: The massification process that occurred between the years of study has shown the importance of alliances between various social sectors (producers-development agencies-academia-Governments), which has allowed the transition from local projects to projects with broad territorial coverage.