Livestock impact on dynamic and structure of tropical dry forest of the Sierra de Manantlán, Mexico

Published source details Montero-Solís F.M., Sánchez-Velásquez L.R., del R.P.M., Martínez-Rivera L.M., Moermond T. & Aguirre J.C. (2006) Livestock impact on dynamic and structure of tropical dry forest of the Sierra de Manantlán, Mexico. JOURNAL OF FOOD AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT, 4, 266.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Use wire fences within grazing areas to exclude livestock from specific forest sections Action Link
	Thin trees within forests: effects on understory plants Action Link

Use wire fences within grazing areas to exclude livestock from specific forest sections

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 1997-2001 in tropical dry forest in Mexico (Montero-Solís et al. 2006) found that cattle exclusion increased trees density and diversity but not species richness. The total number of woody trees taller than 1.3 m was higher in fenced (650) than in grazed plots (450), the same was true for species diversity (Shannon's index fenced: 1.23; grazed: 0.60). The total number of species was similar between treatments (fenced: 44; grazed: 39). Data were collected in 2001 in eight fenced (with barbwire in 1997) and eight grazed plots (12 × 12 m).
Thin trees within forests: effects on understory plants

A replicated, controlled study in 1992-2004 in Ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa forest in Arizona, USA (Montero-Solís et al. 2006) found that thinning increased herbaceous biomass. Herbaceous biomass (kg/ha) was higher in thinned (270-280) than in unthinned plots (~10). Data were collected in 2004 in four circular subplots (2.5 m radius) in each of 10 thinned (thinned from below in 1993, retaining trees 40.6 cm DBH) treatment plots (0.2-0.3 ha), and in three subplots in each of five unthinned treatment plots (total of 55 subplots).