This book brings together information on the contrasting characteristics, condition, present use and problems of the world's main natural grasslands. Since grassland is commercialized through the grazing animal, particular attention is paid to the livestock production systems associated with each main type. Grazing resources are more than simply edible herbage: many other factors have to be taken into account, notably water in all areas, and shelter in winter-cold climates.

This paper is part of the follow-up to the workshop “Managing Agricultural Biodiversity for Sustainable Development” organized by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) for the CGIAR System-wide Genetic Resources Programme (SGRP) and hosted by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Nairobi, Kenya (23-25 October, 2003, Nairobi, Kenya).

In 2004, ICARDA began strategic visioning, driven by the global focus on achieving the Millennium Development Goals and the realignment of the CGIAR System priorities by the Science Council. It involved, among other actions, a consolidation of the 19 research projects into six mega-projects for better integration of the Center’s multidisciplinary teams, and an increased use of new tools of science in addressing the problems of poverty and degradation of natural resources.

Con la finalidad de evaluar productividad, consumo y eficiencia biológica en vacas Frisón Neozelandés (FN) y F1 Jersey-Frisón Neozelandés a pastoreo, se emplearon 23 vacas FN y 24 F1, primíparas, paridas entre el 23/7 y el 27/9 de 2001, en la Estación Experimental Oromo, Universidad de Chile, X Región. La información se recopiló en tres períodos, de 21 días cada uno. Al inicio de estos, las vacas se encontraban en 66, 126 y 220 días de lactancia. Los animales fueron pesados diariamente con el fin de obtener el peso vivo (PV) promedio y la tasa de variación del peso.

This report provides a record of the Global Pastoralist Gathering, an event which brought together more than 200 pastoralists and their supporters from 23 countries to raise the profile and voice of pastoralists in governance and policy processes around the world. In a series of short articles, the report sets out the perspectives of pastoralist leaders from countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.There area number of key issues that were identified during the gathering which concern pastoralists around the world.

El Plan de Acción Nacional de Lucha contra la Desertificación y la Sequía en Colombia es un instrumento de alcance nacional cuyo objetivo general es adelantar acciones contra la degradación de tierras, desertificación y mitigación de los efectos de la sequía, así como para el manejo sostenible de los ecosistemas de las zonas secas, a partir de la aplicación de medidas prácticas que permitan prevenir, detener y revertir dichos procesos degradativos y contribuir al desarrollo sostenible de las zonas afectadas.