Amazon ranchers embrace tree-filled pastures to reduce cattle industry’s environmental impact

In a promising shift for one of the world’s most environmentally destructive industries, cattle ranchers in Peru’s Amazon rainforest are transforming their operations by integrating trees into their grazing lands. This practice, known as silvopasture, is gaining traction in Iñapari, a remote town where the borders of Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil meet.

Local rancher Antonio Cardozo exemplifies this transition, having planted hundreds of native trees throughout his pastures while implementing rotational grazing techniques. The results have been striking: within a year, he more than doubled the number of cattle he could graze per hectare while improving his animals’ health and diet. The trees also provide him with additional sources of food and income, creating a more diversified and resilient farming system.

The shift comes at a critical time for the Amazon and global climate. Livestock farming drives approximately 80% of Amazon deforestation and accounts for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Yet agricultural solutions receive only 7% of climate funding and were notably absent from recent COP30 climate agreements. Researchers argue that silvopasture represents one of the most overlooked opportunities to combat climate change, as it captures carbon in both trees and soil while reducing methane emissions from healthier, less heat-stressed cattle.

Beyond environmental benefits, silvopasture helps farmers adapt to climate disasters that have caused $2.9 trillion in losses globally. As this innovative approach spreads across the Amazon, it offers hope for reconciling cattle ranching with forest conservation.