This innovative approach seeks to apply different techniques to maintain healthy soils and ensure improved long-term livestock production, restoring ecosystems. By adding wildlife friendly techniques,WCS Argentina has supported farmers on the transition to regenerative farming on more than 300,000 hectares in Patagonia and is now expanding the project to the Caldenal in the center of the country.
Made from cotton, wool, or leather, most clothing begins as raw material in agricultural and livestock fields. However, unplanned management of agricultural production can degrade the land through deforestation or overgrazing, generating a negative impact on both the activity and nature. In recent years, many families and livestock farms have begun implementing new practices on their fields to restore healthy soils and grasslands, prioritizing natural processes and respecting the time necessary for regeneration.
This type of regenerative and sustainable livestock farming is a global trend because it supports local economies, contributes to the protection of nature, and mitigates the effects of climate change. It is also a highly valued way of production in the textile and leather goods industries, due to their focus on offering products with raw materials generated through sustainable processes and in harmony with the environment.
WCS Argentina works in landscapes that have been modified by livestock farming and has been supporting farming families and farms in Patagonia that are implementing or wishing to implement measures to coexist with native flora and fauna, generating improvements in productive planning and access to new markets. Over the past five years, there has been increased interest from the rural sector in implementing these types of innovations with WCS, and 70 farms have so far joined the organization’s proposal.
“We seek to promote a shift throughout the value chain toward practices that respect biological processes, consider biodiversity conservation, and ensure the long-term viability of production,” says María José Bolgeri, regenerative management manager at WCS Argentina. “Then, this sustainable production can be sold at a higher value, which also improves the economy of producers. The textile and leather goods industry is part of this change, given that many consumers are beginning to question the origin and production methods of the raw materials for the products they choose,” he adds.
The Pillars of an Alternative and Regenerative Production Model
The implementation of regenerative livestock farming begins with producers’ interest in managing livestock differently than traditional methods, planning grazing based on the productivity of their pastures and the presence of other native wild herbivores. Vegetation and soil sampling is then designed to assess their condition. The distribution, presence, and abundance of medium- and large-sized herbivores and carnivores, such as pumas, rheas, guanacos, and foxes, are also analyzed.
With this data, the summer and winter grazing plan is defined with the producer. The planning consists of defining the number of animals and the grazing and resting times necessary to maximize animal welfare, pasture recovery, and carbon and water retention in the soil in each area used by livestock. This ensures that livestock forage production is predictable over time and more resilient to environmental changes, such as droughts, snowfall, or fires. Regarding native fauna that can affect livestock production by being predators—such as pumas, foxes, or wild cats—or by competing for space and pastures—such as guanacos—non-lethal techniques are recommended, such as the incorporation of livestock guardian dogs, the use of deterrent lights, improvements to corrals and guards for artificial watering holes.
Fiber and leather products obtained using these methods can achieve the international Wildlife Friendly™ certification, which positions them favorably in the market and is well-received by designers and their clients. In 2023 and 2024, for example, WCS Argentina supported a cooperative of Patagonian producers in the sales process of their certified fibers, achieving a 15% to 20% increase in sales value.
Regenerative Livestock Farming in the Patagonian Steppe
The regenerative livestock farming approach is versatile, adapting to the specifics of each natural environment, soil, and climate, as well as to the management capabilities of each producer. In Patagonia, livestock areas are made up of grasslands, and the predominant livestock are sheep and goats. When livestock numbers are very high, soils are more likely to become desertified, impacting production and native species. Considering the harsh climate, with low temperatures and strong winds affecting livestock, regenerative management is an effective solution, helping to accommodate livestock loads and movement based on field productivity.
The Gallie family manages 121,500 hectares on their farms in Camarones (Chubut) and Río Turbio (Santa Cruz), and is a pioneer in applying regenerative management techniques. “The farm is a kind of functional unit that combines production with wildlife,” remarks Juan Gallie, who explains that, to implement this approach, “we first had to adapt the infrastructure, make divisions to modify water distribution, and that also implies a change in the way we work. Through practice, we learned that in addition to looking at the pasture, we must also consider the condition of the animal.” Four years ago, with the support of WCS Argentina, and thanks to the work carried out, they obtained Wildlife Friendly™ certification.
“Constant, systematic work with a clear objective is beginning to be reflected in the pasture and in the animals’ development. Everything is coming together, and results are being achieved. For example, this year, our sheep achieved 104% “señalada”, which is reproductive efficiency, and the lambs weighed 14.5 kilos on the hook with very good micronage fine Merino. These are great indicators after a tremendous winter. With the cows, after four years of drought, we reduced the stocking rate by half and achieved a 92% calf branding rate, and 6-month-old calves weigh 200 kilos on average,” comments Esteban Gallie, who, along with his brother Juan, has invested in the development of the fields.
The Pampean Caldenal, Another Livestock Geography
Another particular case occurs in the center of the country, predominantly in the province of La Pampa, where 70% of the remaining area of the native caldenal forest is located. In this productive area, cattle are the main livestock, and the greatest threats to the ecosystem are the expansion of bushes and uncontrolled fires. There, the regenerative livestock approach aims to apply pasture techniques, water distribution, and grazing and resting periods for livestock that can increase production rates while minimizing soil degradation and habitat loss for wildlife.
“We seek to promote regenerative management of grazing and leather processing practices aligned with a healthy ecosystem,” says Lautaro Córdoba, WCS Argentina conservation coordinator in the Caldenal. “According to the surveys we conducted with producers, the challenge is to design strategic grazing schemes and increase the quantity, quality, and better seasonal distribution of forage that boosts livestock production rates, such as pregnancy, calving, and weaning.”
Respecting ecological cycles increases the coverage of high-value native species such as flechilla and unquillo. Furthermore, the soil improves its capacity to store rainwater and increases the amount of nutrients and insects that contribute to its fertility. This provides greater predictability in the forage supply, which increases resilience to drought and fires. Furthermore, tree selection through thinning prevents the accumulation of combustible material, and prescribed burns prevent uncontrolled fires.
The regenerative livestock farming proposed by WCS Argentina in conjunction with the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network, with support from the Regenerative Fund for Nature, is an alternative and sustainable way for land use, contributing to the profitability of rural families and enabling the coexistence of these human activities with the natural landscape and its biodiversity. “Therefore, this approach could represent a global solution for nature, people, and the climate,” the organization concludes.
