· A pecuária é um dos principais motores do desmatamento. (FAO, ONU, 2006)
· Desde a década de 1990, aproximadamente 90% do desmatamento da Amazônia ocorreu devido ao desbravamento de terras para o pastejo do gado ou para o cultivo de ração para o gado.
· Em Queensland, Austrália, 91% de todas as retiradas de árvores ao longo de um período de 20 anos têm sido realizadas para a pastagem de gado. (Relatório recente sobre um estudo de 20 anos, autorizado pelo governo de Queensland como mencionado pelo Sr. Gerald Bisshop, principal cientista aposentado do Departamento de Meio Ambiente e Gestão de Recursos de Queensland)
DESERTIFICAÇÃO
· A desertificação é causada pelo excesso de pastejo e pela expansão das áreas de cultivo alimentar para o gado. (TPN3 Gestão de pastos em Áreas Áridas, incluindo a fixação de dunas de areia, UNCCD, 2003) Mais de 50% da erosão do solo mundial é causada pelo gado, o que leva à desertificação.
· Cerca de 75 bilhões de toneladas de solo arável estão sendo erodidas anualmente devido à má gestão agrícola, mudança climática e pastagens de gado. Só nos Estados Unidos, 54% das pastagens estão desgastadas, com mais de 100 toneladas de solo arável perdido por hectare por ano. (Um estudo apresentado pelo professor John Crawford na recente Conferência de Agricultura de Carbono, realizada em Nova Gales do Sul, Austrália)
· Em 2010, o Iraque, China, Chade, Austrália e Mongólia, dentre outros, relataram graves secas, com as pastagens do gado piorando as condições. Referência
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