1B-+Ranching

Ranching

**__What is Ranching?__** ==Clearing for pastureland and land speculation purposes is a major cause of tropical forest loss, especially in Latin America. Cattle are an attractive investment for Amazonian farmers because they are a highly liquid capital asset with low marginal costs once forest has been cleared. Cattle are used to establish land claims on otherwise "unoccupied" rainforest land and can be used as a hedge against inflation. ==

**__Why is it harmful?__**

==Pastureland is usually cleared by the burning of secondary growth and land previously used for subsistence agriculture. This burning is especially dangerous under dry conditions when fires can spread into neighboring old-growth rainforest and cause considerable damage.==

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==Addressing forest degradation and clearing for pastureland is difficult, but important due to the severe soil leaching and erosion under traditional grazing systems. Rainforest clearing for cattle can be immediately reduced by eliminating tax incentives and land policies that encourage such activities. Productivity can be increased on existing pastureland by introducing agroforestry techniques. Through intercropping—the strategy of planting perennial trees on pastureland—ranchers can diversify their income while reducing soil erosion and maintaining higher soil quality. At the same time these patches retain considerably higher levels of biological diversity than bare fields. Livestock also benefits from the shade and adds fertilizer to the base of the trees as they take refuge from the sun.==

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This graph shows that in the last 20 years, Brazil's meat exports are growing rapidly. Organizations are working towards making this trend reverse and decline rather then incline.
[] __What can you do?__
 * ==Educate your school about the importance of the Rainforest.==
 * ==Donate to organization that help to stop deforestation.==
 * ==Don't buy products from companies that ranch in the rainforest.==