A critical dimension of global environmental change is the high rate of deforestation taking place as landholders convert primary and secondary growth into pastures for raising cattle. In the Brazilian Amazon, the expansion of cattle ranching is occurring at such a rapid pace that concerned analysts have coined the term "pecuarização" (cattlelization) to depict the extraordinary increase in the...

s of Overview and Keynote speakers ........................................................................ 12 Program of Oral Presentations ............................................................................................... 20 List of Posters.......................................................................................................................... 24 ABSTRACTS for Or...

Background: The Azuero Peninsula, while home to Panama’s famous folkloric cultural traditions, is also considered the most deforested region of the country. Degradation of the highly endangered dry tropical forest of the Azuero is due to conventional agriculture and livestock practices that promote hostile, treeless landscapes. In particular, extensive cattle ranching, which includes the planti...