Resumen
- Cattle production in Central America is a source of stable income for livestock farmers. But in the eyes of environmentalists it is responsible for increasing deforestation. This contradictory picture emerged in the 970s, when land allocated to agricultural production increased dramatically because of the increasing demand for meat, milk and other products. As a consequence of this huge demand, along with cattle production under unfavourable farm management conditions, serious environmental problems evolved. These included land degradation, and in particular, the degradation of pastures. In the region, more than 50 percent of pasture land is now degraded.