Abstract Understanding traditional livestock management is essential in the design of more sustainable systems, given the forest loss associated to the growing demand for meat. In Latin America, where extensive livestock production is increasing, along with tropical dry forest (TDF) transformation, the role of small holders is critical for designing more sustainable management practices. This study is an integrated socioecological analysis of traditional livestock systems in a region with TDF in Mexico. The objectives were to: a) characterise the historical development and current state of livestock systems and silvopastoral practices, b) define the management strategies and their impacts on forests, and c) identify the regional and local socioecological drivers that influence decision-making processes in livestock and forest management. In-depth interviews were carried out to 32 cattle farmers and analysed using a qualitative-interpretative approach which included multivariate and narrative analyses. Three historical stages (colonization, promotion of livestock and forest conservation) had a strong impact in the development and current state of livestock systems. Access to natural and economic resources and proportion of plant cover (grassland/forest) were essential in defining four groups of management strategies. The main regional drivers favouring or restricting production include climate, native vegetation, markets and public policies; at the local scale, socioecological factors, such as water availability, native vegetation, economic assets, local knowledge and their interactions determine heterogeneity in management strategies, decision-making processes and their impacts on forests. Adaptive management of livestock and forests in a context of limited economic resources has allowed the conservation of forest areas and the use of silvopastoral practices with local tree species. The integrated socio-ecological approach and the use of mixed methods allowed a better understanding of drivers and their interrelationships, the local knowledge, objectives and perceptions of farmers in the decision-making processes regarding livestock and forest management. Perspectives of farmers on resource use can contribute to the design of more effective and inclusive policies for sustainable livestock systems in the dry tropics.

中文翻译：

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热带干旱森林传统畜牧系统的管理策略、林牧实践和社会生态驱动因素：综合分析

摘要 考虑到与肉类需求不断增长相关的森林损失，了解传统的牲畜管理对于设计更可持续的系统至关重要。在拉丁美洲，粗放式畜牧生产不断增加，热带干旱森林 (TDF) 转型，小农的作用对于设计更可持续的管理实践至关重要。本研究是对墨西哥 TDF 地区传统畜牧系统的综合社会生态分析。目标是：a) 描述畜牧系统和林牧实践的历史发展和现状，b) 确定管理战略及其对森林的影响，以及 c) 确定影响决策过程的区域和地方社会生态驱动因素牲畜和森林管理。对 32 位养牛户进行了深入访谈，并使用包括多变量和叙事分析在内的定性解释方法进行了分析。三个历史阶段（殖民化、促进牲畜和森林保护）对牲畜系统的发展和现状产生了重大影响。获取自然资源和经济资源以及植物覆盖的比例（草地/森林）对于定义四组管理策略至关重要。有利于或限制生产的主要区域驱动因素包括气候、原生植被、市场和公共政策；在当地范围内，社会生态因素，如水资源可用性、原生植被、经济资产、当地知识及其相互作用决定了管理策略的异质性，决策过程及其对森林的影响。在经济资源有限的情况下对牲畜和森林进行适应性管理，可以保护林区和使用当地树种的林牧做法。综合社会生态方法和混合方法的使用有助于更好地了解驱动因素及其相互关系、当地知识、农民在牲畜和森林管理决策过程中的目标和看法。农民对资源利用的看法有助于为干旱热带地区的可持续畜牧系统设计更有效和更具包容性的政策。在经济资源有限的情况下对牲畜和森林进行适应性管理，可以保护林区和使用当地树种的林牧做法。综合社会生态方法和混合方法的使用有助于更好地了解驱动因素及其相互关系、当地知识、农民在牲畜和森林管理决策过程中的目标和看法。农民对资源利用的看法有助于为干旱热带地区的可持续畜牧系统设计更有效和更具包容性的政策。在经济资源有限的情况下对牲畜和森林进行适应性管理，可以保护林区和使用当地树种的林牧做法。综合社会生态方法和混合方法的使用有助于更好地了解驱动因素及其相互关系、当地知识、农民在牲畜和森林管理决策过程中的目标和看法。农民对资源利用的看法有助于为干旱热带地区的可持续畜牧系统设计更有效和更具包容性的政策。农民在牲畜和森林管理决策过程中的目标和看法。农民对资源利用的看法有助于为干旱热带地区的可持续畜牧系统设计更有效和更具包容性的政策。农民在牲畜和森林管理决策过程中的目标和看法。农民对资源利用的看法有助于为干旱热带地区的可持续畜牧系统设计更有效和更具包容性的政策。