Resilience in the rainforest: interregional assessment of adaptation practices in Ecuadorian livestock systems

Climate change presents increasing challenges to livestock systems, particularly in a vulnerable region such as the Ecuadorian Amazon, where small- and medium-scale farmers face greater climatic variability with limited capacity to adapt. This research investigates the effectiveness of adaptation strategies employed by these farmers to evaluate their impact on resilience practices. Utilizing a cross-sectional mixed methods design, this study combined both qualitative and quantitative approaches. A proportional stratified sample of 108 farmers from the six Amazonian provinces of Ecuador was surveyed. The data collection instrument was validated through expert review and a pilot study. The findings indicate that 42.6 % of respondents have observed a prolonged summer season and declining water levels in estuaries, springs, and rivers. In contrast, 43.5 % reported an increase in respiratory diseases among livestock. Notably, 51.9 % of farmers have not implemented adaptation measures, such as fodder banks, and a striking 91.7 % do not take action to safeguard their water resources. Among those who have adopted strategies, the most prevalent practice is the establishment of fodder banks, with 63.9 % reporting their use. However, this strategy did not exhibit a significant correlation with enhanced resilience (p < 0.317) regarding drought-resistant livestock. The results suggest that current adaptation practices, particularly the use of fodder banks, are not significantly improving the resilience of livestock systems in the region. The research underscores the urgent need for the development and implementation of more tailored and contextualized adaptation strategies. The adoption of silvopastoral systems emerges as a promising approach, which could provide multiple benefits in terms of resilience and sustainability.

Keywords:
Climate-change adaptation; Amazonian agriculture; livestock resilience; sustainable farming practices