Grazing Research at Northern Latitudes

This volume contains the papers, recommendations and conclusions of the Workshop on Grazing Research at Northern Latitudes held at Hvanneyri in Iceland, 5-10 August, 1985. As the name indicates, the Workshop was dedicated to the study of plant-animal interactions in ecosystems that have evolved under boreal conditions and are therefore typically fragile. The sensitivity of vast areas of northern grazing lands to the impact of grazing animals has in many areas led to irreversible plant and soil losses. However, northern areas of the world offer tremendous potential for production of red meat. One of the means of efficiently utilizing these vast rangelands is by grazing animals that are able to forage over extensive areas. This is an efficient way to convert primary production into much needed protein to help satisfy increasing requirements throughout the world. Because of increased development of the resources of the northern regions as well as the population increase in general, an increase in food production in these areas is necessary. Strengthening of agriculture in the north further helps to improve the standard of living. Since the traditional mid-latitude farming methods are not well suited to the northern conditions, it is important to develop and learn new production techniques that fit the short summers and long winters. A logical first step is to utilize the enormous grazing value of the northern areas.