| Resource base | Risks and opportunities | Underlying factors |
| Land
Soil structure |
(-) Erosion | Excessive grazing and
browsing,
Animal trampling Mechanization |
| Land
Soil fertility |
(-) Decrease of organic matter content, loss of soil fertility | Deforestation for grassland establishment, change of land use and no fertilizer input |
| (+) Nutrient cycling improvement | Pasture use and maintenance: permanent pasture stimulating soil macrofauna, microfauna and nutrient cycling | |
| (+) Improvement of soil nitrogen content by biotic fixation | Good grazing management: Introduction of legumes in pasture | |
| Water
Quality |
(-) Organic pollution of stream water
(-) Chemical Pollution |
Poor management of animal
wastes.
Poor use of chemical inputs Bad use of pesticides |
| Atmosphere
Gas emission |
(-) Increased Carbon dioxide emission | Deforestation for pasture establishment |
| (+) Decreased rates of Carbon dioxide release to the atmosphere | Carbon sequestration: Use of permanent pastures accumulating organic matter in soil and sward | |
| Biodiversity
Vegetation structure |
(-) Important change of vegetal structure and landscape | Deforestation for pasture establishment |
| (+) Improvement of ground cover | Good grazing management: Introduction of useful plants in pasture | |
| Biodiversity
Plant species |
(-) Reduction of botanical diversity | Deforestation for pasture establishment |
| (-) Weed invasion in improved pasture | Pasture use and maintenance: Frequent bush fire, impure seed stocks and bad management | |
| Biodiversity
Animal species |
(-) Reduction of wildlife and habitat | Poor protection of wildlife: Competition for food and space "between" domestic animals and wildlife |
| (+) Protection of wildlife and habitats | More effective utilization of wildlife: Mixed ranching game/cattle |
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