Effects of livestock grazing on soil health and recovery of a degraded Andean Araucaria forest

Araucaria araucana is an iconic long-lived endangered tree species native to Southern Chile and Argentina. forests soils provide a myriad of ecosystem benefits local communities, which are threatened by increasing anthropic-driven disturbances like fire livestock overgrazing. The main objectives this study were: (i) evaluate the effect uncontrolled grazing on soil health; (ii) identify set sensitive health indicators pressure. Twenty in two contiguous degraded forest areas with contrasting pressure were considered. A substantial shift structure 12% reduction coverage overgrazed sites observed. Overgrazing has substantially affected physical, chemical, biological indicators, making conditions less suitable for regeneration. Significant increments C:P N:P ratios observed due overgrazing (p < 0.01). Soil chemical properties such as Kjeldahl nitrogen, P-fractions (total, inorganic, available), cation exchange capacity (CEC), pH identified best activity these soils. Additionally, cover altered physical (e.g., saturated hydraulic conductivity, infiltration, aggregate stability), suggesting changes hydrological behavior potential consequences water storage availability. Our results show that protected degrades forests, restricting regeneration potentially accelerating erosive processes. These emphasize need improved conservation plans systematically evaluates monitors direct indirect effects health.