Livestock, Climate, and the Myth of “Natural” Emissions | Pablo Manzano, PhD

In this episode, rangeland ecologist Dr. Pablo Manzano of the Basque Centre for Climate Change joins the show to challenge the dominant narrative that livestock are inherently harmful to the climate and the planet. We examine the two most common critiques of animal agriculture—greenhouse gas emissions and land use—and unpack why these arguments often ignore how ecosystems actually function. Dr. Manzano introduces the concept of baseline emissions, explaining how grazing livestock largely replace the ecological role once filled by vast populations of wild herbivores, meaning many methane emissions attributed to livestock are part of natural, unavoidable ecosystem processes rather than purely human-caused additions.

We also explore why land use itself is not inherently negative, how undergrazing and land abandonment can increase wildfire risk and ecological degradation, and why mobile pastoralism may be one of the most effective tools for conserving rangelands while producing food. The conversation critiques conventional life cycle assessments (LCAs), highlighting how “carbon tunnel vision” and simplistic accounting can lead to misguided policy recommendations. If you’re looking for a more nuanced, ecosystem-based perspective on livestock, climate change, and sustainable food systems, this episode offers a powerful reframing of the debate.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Livestock and Ecosystem Conservation

02:30 The Role of Herbivory in Ecosystem Dynamics

06:05 Understanding Baseline Emissions from Wild Herbivores

15:50 The Complexity of Livestock Emissions and Management

18:24 Comparative Emissions: Livestock vs. Wild Herbivores

24:58 Future of Herbivory: Rewilding and Ecosystem Restoration

26:28 Rewilding and Ecological Challenges

32:14 The Role of Livestock in Ecosystem Management

38:06 Food Security and Sustainable Practices

47:08 Rethinking Land Use and Emissions

52:04 Understanding Complexity in Nature

Dr. Pablo Manzano

X: https://x.com/PabloPastos
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pablo-manzano/
Basque Centre for Climate Change: https://www.bc3research.org/pablo_manzano

Connect with Ty

X: https://www.x.com/TyBealPhD
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tybeal
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tybealphd
Newsletter: https://www.tybeal.com