HHH Students Examine Mesoamerican Deforestation Induced By Cattle Ranching
Humphrey school students Lily
Osborne (MDP), Shai Fogelson (MS-STEP), Nfamara
K Dampha (MDP) and Audel Shokohzadeh (MPP) prepared a report for the
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) on the effects of the cattle ranching
industry on deforestation in three Mesoamerican countries: Nicaragua,
Guatemala, and Honduras. The team conducted background research and
communicated with the WCS staff to gain a firm understanding of the impact of
this industry. Based on their findings, the team concluded that deforestation
in this region would continue to grow without better regulation of cattle
ranching. Recommendations were put forth
with the understanding that WCS has the ability to directly engage with
stakeholders in the cattle ranching industry and facilitate change in behavior
and practice. In an effort to target three key pressure points, these
recommendations addressed issues relating to social and behavioral norms, the
cattle industry itself, as well as governmental bodies at the local, regional,
and national level. This report will be utilized by the WCS going forward in
their ongoing conservation efforts in Mesoamerica.