The semiarid Caatinga biome in the Northeast of Brazil that occupies about 845,000 km ² is located between 3° to 17° S, and 35° to 45° W (IBGE, 2004), and spread over ten states (Fig. 1). The climatology of the region is one of the most complex in the world (Fernandes, 2003). Most of the area is located in a "depression," which, due to the predominance of stable air masses, creates a unique environment of the rainfall being blocked from reaching the biome. As noted by Ab'Sáber (2003), the Caatinga region receives an annual average rainfall of 750-800 mm, the Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest biome that are adjacent to the Caatinga on two longitudinal sides receives much higher rainfall. Furthermore, there is a high degree of year-to-year variation in rainfall in the range of 260-800 mm in the Caatinga region, where rainy season lasts usually for 3 to 5 months, and severe drought periods lasting 3-5 years occur every three or four decades. High annual average temperatures are another striking feature of the Caatinga, with values between 25 to 29°C (Ab'Sáber, 2003). Compared with other regions of Brazil, this region has several extreme meteorological characteristics such as the highest solar radiation, low cloudiness, the highest annual average temperature, the lowest relative humidity, and the highest potential evapotranspiration (Fernandes, 2003).

The soils of the Caatinga region are stony and shallow, with many outcrops of massive rocks. The main soil orders (US Soil Taxonomy) are Ultisols, Alfisols, and Oxisols (Argisol, Luvisol, and Latosol according to the Brazilian soil classification); in general, these soils are of average agricultural potential (Araújo Filho, 2013). Soil erosion is a serious problem in the biome, Utisols and Alfisols being particularly prone to severe erosion (Jacomine, 1996).

The main vegetation type of the biome is a deciduous woodland (Fig. 2), composed of arboreal or shrub forests, mainly low trees and shrubs. Many of them have spines and some xerophytic characteristics (Prado, 2003). The growth rate of a managed native vegetation is correlated mainly with the annual precipitation (61% to 89%), whereas other factors such as past use, soil quality, and grazing intensity, contribute 11% to 39% of growth (Pareyn et al., 2015). The Caatinga has a rich diversity of plants. Forzza et al. (2010) described 4,320 species of angiosperms in the biome, 744 of which were described as endemic. According to Araújo Filho (2013), who has provided major descriptions of the ecology and land-use systems of the Caatinga region, the most frequent botanical families are Cactaceae, Caesalpinaceae, Mimosaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Fabaceae, the major genera being Senna, Mimosa and Pithecellobium. The most common woody species are Amburana cearensis, Anadenanthera colubrina, Aspidosperma pyrifolium, Poincianella pyramidalis, Croton spp., Cnidoscolus quercifolius, Commiphora leptophloeos, Mimosa spp., Myracrodruon urundeuva, Schinopsis brasiliensis, and Handroanthus impetiginosus (Prado, 2003).

Livestock activities in the Caatinga biome are concentrated in a region that resembles a savannah, with an abundant herbaceous vegetation and arboreal shrub covering about 20%, and the tree density varying from 0 to 300 plants/ha. About 70% of the tree species of the Caatinga are fodder trees, some better forage as leafy materials, and others as litter in dry periods (Araújo Filho et al., 1998). The major fodder shrub/tree species that are browsed by the animals and their characteristics are included in Table 1.

Livestock in the biome are mainly cattle, sheep, and goats. In the native forests without management, they derive more than 70% of their diet from the woody vegetation (Araújo Filho et al., 1996) (Table 2); but it is less than 10% of the biomass produced, because most of the leaf produced in the rainy season is not accessible to the animals and in the dry season the biomass is of lower quality and is less preferred by animals (Araújo Filho et al., 2002). The management of the native vegetation can change the main feed source of these animals, mainly cattle (Table 2). A good comprehension of these animals' behavior in the biome and ways of improving forage availability/productivity of each species alone and in combination with other species is critically important for successful management of SPS.

During the dry season, which is the season of nutritional stress, the Caatinga vegetation has little or no forage in the "bipedal foraging zone" (accessible to animals while standing up on two rear legs and leaning on to the tree) and leaf litter is the dominant component of the available forage. The quantity of leaf litter available during the dry season varies from 500 to 1,500 kg/ha, which constitutes 20-70% of the animal's annual diet (Pfister & Malechek, 1986). Leaf litter of most deciduous trees contain 10% crude protein throughout the dry season (Pfister, 1983), and goats are better adapted than other animals to take advantage of this resource.

In the Caatinga, more than 90% of the farms have herds of more than one animal species simultaneously (Araújo Filho, 2013). Reviewing pasture management practices of the region, Cândido et al. (2005) highlighted that the diet of goats and sheep (or cattle) are complementary due to different grazing preferences. The degree of dietary overlap between sheep and goats is greatest in the dry season and almost complementary in the wet season. During the year, sheep spend significantly longer time than goats foraging the herbaceous vegetation, while goats tend to prefer browse matter (Pfister et al., 1988). Although the feeding behavior of goats compared to that of sheep changes more during the seasons, no evidence has been found to conclude if survival rate of goats was correspondingly higher in the region (Pfister & Malechek, 1986). It is likely that during the dry season when forage supply is less, both species of animals tend to feed from the same forage sources.

Despite water limitations, more than 25 million people live in the Caatinga biome. Currently the main land-use systems of the biome are livestock and crop production and firewood collection from the native vegetation to support the industry and the local demand (IBGE, 2006).

Historically, livestock-related activities were the primary occupation of the inhabitants. That situation has not changed, and continues to be very important for local farmers. In a drought year, the agricultural production in the state of Ceará, a major state of the Caatinga region, declines by up to 84%, whereas livestock activity drops by only 20% (Araújo Filho, 2013). On the other hand, livestock activities using practices like slash-and-burn with a fallow period shorter than 50 years, overgrazing, and intense firewood gathering accounted for about 45% of deforestation and desertification in many regions in the biome (MMA, 2007; 2011). The recognition of the negative impact of livestock activities in the biome and recommendations on tree growing in the pasture for improving livestock productivity date back to the 1860s (Braga, 1962). Today, a substantial body of knowledge on sustainable land use systems in the biome, mainly SPS, is available as numerous reports and books that describe these practices (Araújo Filho, 2013; Cândido et al., 2005).

The guidelines for sustainable management of the native Caatinga forest (Araújo Filho, 2013) include three important norms to be followed: 1) maintain up to 400 trees/ha (40% tree cover), 2) limit the use of available forage to a maximum of 60% per year, and 3) preserve the riparian forest (Araújo Filho, 2013). Allowing at least 40% of the available forage to dry up to provide mulch is important for soil protection. Araújo Filho et al. (2002) reported that maintaining 30% of tree cover in the Caatinga pastureland increased both forage and meet production.

The carrying capacity of the arboreal shrub vegetation without management for supporting animal production is very low: an area of about 10 ha is necessary to support one life stock unit (LSU) of cattle and 2 ha/animal for sheep or goat. Overall, in the native vegetation without management, goats and sheep perform better than cattle (Tables 3 and 4): goats can gain an annual live weight of up to 11.9 kg/ha, sheep 9.7 kg/ha, and cattle 5.6 kg/ha (Araújo Filho et al., 2002). Thus, proper management of the native forest is an important step toward sustainable use of resources. Some of the management options for the Caatinga forest are described below.

Four main SPS management practices have been suggested for increasing forage productivity or animals' accessibility to forage of the native vegetation of the Caatinga region. These are: thinning, coppicing, thinning + coppicing, and enrichment (Table 5).

Thinning

Thinning the tree stand opens up the overstory canopy and helps more sunlight to be transmitted to the understory and thus increase yield and availability of herbaceous understory plants for cattle and sheep (Tables 3 and 4). Goats under this management practice can gain an annual live weight of up to 33.8 kg/ha, sheep 32.6 kg/ha, and cattle 57.8 kg/ha consequent to improvement in their forage diet (Table 2). With this management, the area required to support one LSU of cattle is 3.5 ha and 0.5 ha for goat and sheep (Araújo Filho et al., 2002).

One important consideration for this management is to decide which trees (of different species as well as individuals of the same species) to be removed vs. retained. Examples of fodder trees that should be kept include: mororó ( Bauhinia cheilantha), pau-ferro ( Libidibia ferrea), and sabiá ( Mimosa caesalpiniifolia), and, on the other hand, tree species that are not accepted as forage can be considered for removal, or maintained for other purposes ( i.e. conservation), like Auxemma oncocalyx one of the least consumed by sheep and goats (Kirmse et al., 1987).

Some common norms to be observed are that 40% tree cover (around 400 medium size trees/ha) may be maintained, and thinning should be avoided in areas of slopes steeper that 25%. Thinning regimes should be designed such that the tree arrangements after thinning should result in one of the three configurations: (1) Savannah (trees dispersed on landscape); (2) tree clusters consisting of small groups of trees together as a cluster or group and the clusters scattered on the landscape; and (3) tree alleys in which trees are planted close together in single or double rows with wider distances between tree rows (as in alley cropping type of agroforestry). The alley type of arrangement is recommended for slopes of 10-25%, and the savannah and tree clusters for slopes less than 10%, for facilitating soil conservation (Araújo Filho, 2013).

Coppicing

Coppicing refers to cutting the trees' branches or trunks at a low height, usually 20-30 cm above ground, to facilitate vigorous re-sprouting of new shots in an accessible stratum for the animals, enhancing the quality of the animals' diet (Kirmse et al., 1987; Araújo Filho et al., 2002). Goats gain an annual live weight of up to 41.3 kg/ha, sheep 19.1 kg/ha, and cattle 22.3 kg/ha (Table 4). For this type of management, the area required to support one LSU of cattle is about 5 ha and 0.7 ha for goat and sheep. For the combination of cattle (or sheep) and goat is recommended, i.e., one head of cattle/sheep for every six to eight heads of goat (Araújo Filho, 2013). Thinning and topping can also be done together.

Coppicing should not be done uniformly to all tree species; the rate at which the trees resprout varies considerably among species. Some resprout vigorously, while some do not resprout at all and they die off once they are cut. Species that are preferred by animals and can withstand coppicing include: jurema-preta ( Mimosa tenuiflora), jurema-branca ( Piptadenia stipulacea), quebra-faca ( Croton conduplicatus), feijão-bravo ( Capparis cynophallophora), carquejo ( Calliandra depauperata), camaratuba ( Cratylia mollis), marmeleiro ( Croton hemiargyreus), sabiá and mororó. Some trees that are not forage but have contribution to the system ecologically, medicinally or economi-cally should not be coppiced; the examples include baraúna ( Schinopsis brasiliensis), umbuzeiro ( Spondi-as tuberosa), pereiro ( Aspidosperma pyrifolium), and embiratanha ( Pseudobombax marginatum). Trees that are consumed when dry or used for hay production such as catingueira ( Poincianella pyramidalis) should also not be coppiced (Araújo Filho, 2013).

Enrichment planting

Enrichment or enrichment planting refers to the practice of introducing additional plants into an existing stand of plants, increasing the overall productivity from the land. Araújo Filho (2013) described that enrichment plantings in the Caatinga region can result in live-weight increases of up to 120 kg/ha for goats, 180 kg/ha for sheep and 172 kg/ha for cattle (Table 3). The LSU can be one cattle/ha and up to 10/ha for goats and sheep (Araújo Filho, 2013). The species used for enrichment of the grass component include: buffel ( Cenchrus ciliaris), capim-gramão ( Cynodon dactylon), capim-corrente ( Urochloa mosambicensis), and capim-andropogon ( Andropogon gayanus).

The tree component to be used for such enrichment planting could be either exotic species such as leucaena ( Leucaena leucocephala), algaroba ( Prosopis juliflora) and gliricidia ( Gliricidia sepium) or native multipurpose trees such as juazeiro ( Ziziphus joazeiro), umbuzeiro, and aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva). Umbuzeiro produces a locally consumed fruit and the leaves are palatable to animals; juazeiro can be used as medicinal species and for production of fruit, wood, and forage; and algaroba is an excellent fodder species as a green fodder in rainy season and leaves and fruits in the dry season; it has high-quality timber and is a nitrogen-fixer too (Araújo Filho, 2013).

Reports on the survival of tree seedlings used for enrichment planting in the Caatinga are not available; this is an aspect that needs investigation. Furthermore, studies from two arid regions, northwestern India (Vishwanatham et al., 1999) and northern China (Lai et al., 2014), have pointed out the importance of maintaining adequate distance between tree seedlings and grass patches to reduce belowground competition.

Fodder bank

Management of the native vegetation can and sometimes should be done with techniques and treatments that may be new yet relevant to the location. Introduction of a "fodder bank" is one such strategy. A fodder bank is an assemblage of tree and shrub species that are predominantly fodder species, but are multipurpose in nature, providing multiple products and services such as for forage, fruits, soil fertility improvement, and biodiversity habitats. They can be assembled as woodlots, live fences, wind breaks, soil conservation barriers, and for similar other purposes. Usually, the fodder is cut and carried to stall-feed the animals, but sometimes are allowed to graze on the fodder bank in a controlled manner for defined periods of time (Cândido et al., 2005).

The Caatinga Research Institution of the Instituto Nacional do Semiárido, Campina Grande/PB, is studying native and exotic trees for fodder banks; the species include canafistula ( Peltophorum dubium), gliricidia, leucaena and moringa ( Moringa oleifera) (INSA, 2015). As an example, leucaena can produce 1.3 to 6 Mg/ha of dry biomass annually while also contributing to soil fertility (Duarte, 2002). Gliricidia sepium is adapted to a wide range of water (rainfall) regimes including under water-stress conditions. In a study using trees planted in 6 m × 1 m spacing between and within rows respectively at Campina Grande, Marin et al. (2006) found a higher soil concentration of nutrients (P and K) under the trees, and a temperature 6°C lower under the trees than away from the trees (middle of the rows). Additionally, the litterfall from trees was kg 1,390 kg/ha under the trees, compared with 270 kg/ha, 3 m away from the trees. A native tree species with potential as a fodder bank species is catinguera ( Caesalpinia pyramidalis), which is drought tolerant. Although its green leaves are not palatable, animals relish the dry leaves that are nutritious and thus it has potential as a reserve feedstock in the late dry season (Pfister & Malechek, 1986). The protein-rich foliage of fodder trees such as leucaena and gliricidia can also be preserved by drying (hay) or fermentation (silage) for lean fodder-availability seasons (Cândido et al., 2005).

Non-conventional feed resources

Another plant that is suitable for feed supplementation during the dry season or drought periods is cactus. In the Caatinga, goats grazing on native vegetation half year had their diet quality improved in the reproduction period with the cactus Opuntia ficus-indica (Soares et al., 2012). The cactus Nopalea cochenillifera has also shown potential as forage for sheep (INSA, 2015). Elephant grass ( Pennisetum purpureum) could also be used more frequently (Araújo Filho, 2013).

Crop residues of common crops could also be used to feed animals, but with nutritional supplementation; such common crops include maniçoba ( Manihot glaziovii), sugarcane ( Saccharum officinarum), cassava ( Manihot esculenta), maize ( Zea mays), rice ( Oryza spp.), and beans ( Phaseolus spp. and Vigna spp.). One study in the Caatinga on goats fed on native vegetation with supplemental diet of maize and sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor) in the dry season was reported to have increased the system resilience during drought periods (Moreira et al., 2000). Another alternative to increase the protein content of feeding sources is the use of multi mixtures and salts with protein. For example, a mix of cassava tubers (low in protein) and the cassava leaves (high in protein) that should be dried in the sun to remove their toxic chemicals (cyanide) and then fed the animals (Cândido et al., 2005). Schacht et al. (1992) studied the desirability of using urea and/or molasses as feed supplements to goats grazing on the Caatinga vegetation and found that the molasses + urea treatment resulted in average daily weight gains of nearly twice as high for other treatments. The more pronounced effect occurred in later in the dry season, when the quality of forage decreased.

Conversion of orchards

Another type of SPS being adopted in the biome is the introduction of animals in orchards and plantations to help in weed management and for the manure. This is being practiced in the irrigated fruit-orchards of mango ( Mangifera indica), Psidium guajava, Malpighia glabra, and Annona squamosa and in non-irrigated stands of Anacardium occidentale, Syagrus coronate, and algaroba. In fruit orchards of vines ( Vitis sp.) and mango, experiments with sheep showed satisfactory animal win weight and weed control efficacy (Guimarães Filho et al., 2000; Guimarães Filho & Soares, 2003). The conversion of the mango orchard reduced the cost of the production in about of 6% (Guimarães Filho & Soares, 2003).

Special systems for small and medium-sized farms

Considering all the possible management approa-ches described above, different systems have been recommended for the Caatinga region with the general objectives of improving nutrient cycling, forage availability and soil resilience. Two main systems are described below, but several other possibilities exist (Araújo Filho, 2013).

The Saf-Sobral system is one that focuses on food production. Food crops are grown in the rainy season in about 20% of the total land holding (which could be < 10 ha). After the crop, a fodder bank is established where the animals can graze in the dry season on both the crop residues and the leguminous fodder trees. This is a promising option for smaller farms with land holdings of area > 3 ha. Considering that most of the farms in the biome are < 10 ha in area, this system has a great potential of adoption and can play an important role for food security (Araújo Filho, 2013).

Another promising system for the region is the Caatinga-Buffel-Leucaena System, for farms that are larger than 20 ha, but preferably larger than 100 ha. This system has three areas: an open pasture, a fodder bank, and the native vegetation. The native forest is 1/3 to 2/3 of the total area; animals can graze over the area mainly during the rainy seasons (3-4 months), when the native vegetation offers good forage of herbaceous and tree vegetation. The area of the open pasture should be no more than 80% of the area and the fodder bank 10-20% of the pasture area (Guimarães Filho et al., 1995). The open pasture should have some grass species such as buffel, which can sustain the herd in the dry season. The fodder bank, with some multipurpose trees such as leucaena should either be allowed to be browsed by animals for short periods (2 h/day) or the foliage could be used in a cut and carry system (Cândido et al., 2005); nutritional supplement with molasses could also be given to animals (Guimarães Filho et al., 1995).

Silvopastoral systems practiced in different parts of semiarid to arid regions of the world have been described in several publications (Nair, 1989; Boffa, 1999; Moreno & Pulido, 2009; Rojas et al., 2016). In the Middle East and the Mediterranean, the most widespread SPS is the Dehesa system in the oak woodlands of Spain and Portugal, estimated to cover more than 3 million ha (Mosquera-Losada et al., 2012; Moreno & Pulido, 2009). In this system, widely spaced natural oak trees ( Quercus rotundifolia, Q. suber, and Q. faginea) are traditionally used mainly for rearing pigs and cattle and harvesting a variety of wood products ( e.g., timber, charcoal, tannin, and cork) for local inhabitants for centuries. Today sheep is the main grazing animal, although goats, cattle, and pigs are also important components. Grazing management is flexible but includes moving animals to field stubble and fodder sources during dry summer months, with concomitant resting periods for grasslands (Joffre et al., 1988). Open woodlands in other Mediterranean countries are also used as SPS, with either oaks or carob trees ( Ceratonia siliqua). Various intercropping systems including silvopasture with olive trees ( Olea europaea) are also very common in the Mediterranean especially Greece (Papanastasis et al., 2009) and Portugal (Castro, 2009).

In Chile, SPS management practices include fodder banks, grazing in croplands, family gardens; but due to the high aridity in many regions, only a few tree species are able to survive producing forage/food, Acacia saligna, Propsopis tamarugo and Prosopis chilensis being the most common (Rojas et al., 2016). These species are also common in salt-affected soils and severely degraded arid regions in Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina. Throughout the arid and semiarid regions of these regions, these species are used in reforestation projects as well as a variety of other land-use systems that may not strictly fall under the category of SPS, including degraded-land reclamation, soil-erosion control, and supplemental human food items such as breads and biscuits and nutraceuticals (Rojas et al., 2016).

In East and Central Africa, SPS are Acacia-dominated in the arid parts of Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia; protein bank (cut and carry) and fodder production are also very common. In the arid and semiarid West Africa, the Parkland system (Boffa, 1999) is most common agroforestry system which also includes integrated crop and animal production in association with multipurpose tress yielding fodder and fuel. Numerous reports are available on this and similar extensive SPS in the region (Garrity et al., 2010).

Overall, the nature of management of these systems is in accordance with the general land-use scenarios and socioeconomic conditions of the regions and countries concerned. Thus, in Africa and the Indian subcontinent, the SPS systems are more subsistence-oriented and labor-intensive than in the Mediterranean and southern regions of South America, where the system management is more capital-intensive and less labor-intensive. An overview of those systems and their characteristics is beyond the scope of this paper. Instead, some common features related to livestock production and SPS in the semiarid regions worldwide and the commonalities and contrasts between the Caatinga SPS and SPS in other parts of the world will be examined briefly in the following sections.

Calculations and estimations for the systems' resilience

Estimations and calculations based on computer models are becoming popular in designing management options for sustainable of livestock activities. Detailed surveys and inventories of local conditions and stocks of natural resources including vegetation characteristics, species composition, tree cover density, biomass productivity, litter production, forage consumption, and animal carrying capacity are some of the points need to be measured for the Caatinga. To the extent possible, farmers should be educated about these calculations and their experience taken into proper consideration. Araújo Filho (2013) has given a detailed account of the major factors to be taken into consideration.

Some computer models are available to estimate the productivity of arid environments. Mor-Mussery et al. (2013) developed a model to predict high yield on a sustainable basis in Israel's arid lands; it is reported to be flexible that allows for adjustment of various parameters (tree growth rate, the grazer's monthly consumption, animal species, and type of fodder) for optimum benefits. One model, for example, showed that grazing capacities for sheep and goats were two times higher in the woodland than in the adjacent sustainably managed shrub-lands, and four times higher than in degraded shrub-lands (Mor-Mussery et al., 2013).

Soil resilience

In the management of any native vegetation as well as anthropogenic grasslands for livestock activities in drylands, plant productivity/survival is a main concern, for which soil resilience plays a key role. Studies have shown SPS as the most efficient land-management system in the Caatinga to minimizing soil degradation processes, reducing water erosion and losses of nutrients and carbon (Menezes & Salcedo, 1999). Aguiar et al. (2010) compared SPS management in the Caatinga to many other practices commonly applied in the region such as intensive cropping, slash and burn, firewood collection, and secondary forest in natural stands, and found that SPS was always one of the best for reducing water and soil losses, and improving soil organic carbon and nutrient content. Additionally, the native vegetation and/or mulch is described to reduce loss of water and soil by more than 70%, compared to deforested areas and soils without mulch (Albuquerque et al., 2002). Studies on the soil improvement potential of specific tree species and comparing to open areas in the Caatinga have reported that the soil near trees such as algaroba, juazeiro, and umbuzeiro increased the level of soil organic matter and nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) (Menezes & Salcedo, 1999; Correia et al., 2014; Pezzopane et al., 2015).

In Jodhpur, Rajasthan state, India, an arid region, the tree litter from a SPS was reported to have increased soil fauna abundance and soil fertility (Tripathi et al., 2013). In a semiarid highland in northern Ethiopia, seasonal "resting" of lands (avoiding livestock interference) on regular basis helped regain key vegetation attributes and soil properties (Habtemicael et al., 2015).

Seasonality and grazing regimes

Grazing limits are very important in the semiarid regions. Overgrazing can cause soil compaction, exterminate seed bank, and curtail the plant's capacity for regrowth. Management measures should be put in place to overcome the effects of dry season and drought years on the availability of forage and the impact of the animals on surviving plants as well as soil erosion. Grazing regimes can play an important role in that. Management of areas without animals can avoid effects of overgrazing and will be economically important; for example, by supporting those that require extra nutrients and energy such as pregnant or lactating animals.

In a study in Northern Oman, areas not grazed by goats had substantially higher species diversity and herbaceous mass yield compared to grazed areas (Schlecht et al., 2009). In the same region, when goats were fed mainly from the native vegetation of generally low yet widely ranging nutritional quality, the productivity was limited. An alternative strategy that was suggested to overcome the problem was an intensive livestock feeding in zero-grazing systems, coupled with cut and carry (CC) the vegetation from ecologically fragile zones (Dickhoefer et al., 2011). This example shows the potential use of recovering or sensitive areas, which may not be suitable for animal grazing, but still can produce forage that can be cut and carried.

A study in Ethiopia compared three grazing regimes: CC, seasonal grazing (SG), and continuous grazing (CG). The CG had the lowest species diversity and richness during the rainy season, and affected negatively the soil bulk density, total nitrogen, and the herbaceous basal cover which was 6.8 times smaller than CC. For the occurrence of not desirable or intended plants, like non-forage species, CC was also the best management for the dry season, although in general SG regime improved soil phosphorus (Habtemicael et al., 2015).

Animal welfare

The maintenance of source of animal feed can be considered the main focus, but the effect of strong light intensity without shades over the animals in hot regions may play a significant effect on their welfare and productivity. The potential of microclimate amelioration by the trees to cattle for example is described for the Cerrado biome (Paciullo et al., 2014). Although there are no reports about the effect of tree shading on the animals in the Caatinga, in a homestead study, the shading provided by trees increased milk yield by 3.5 kg/day (Domingos et al., 2013). The role of shading in increasing animal welfare and optimizing productivity should always be considered, but possible adverse effect of too much shading by trees on herbaceous productivity will also need to be weighed in.

Salinization

Soil salinization is a major concern in many arid regions worldwide, and the Caatinga region is no exception to this (Lima et al., 2001). A recommendation to address the problem, worldwide, is to grow salt-tolerant plants that can be used as forage (directly or after chemical process) (Gul et al., 2014). In this context, it is also important to consider if the halophytes selected as forage species contains any toxic compounds that are harmful to the animals. In situations like that, the animals should gradually be conditioned to optimum water-intake (Gul et al., 2014).

The best species for halophytic fodder crop preferably contain > 5% protein and < 10% ash. Many halophytes can fulfill the animals' protein requirement, but if the species has 10-15% ash, it may be used as supplements to regular feed (El Shaer, 2010). Before feeding the species with high ash and or toxic chemicals to animals, they are sometimes subjected to treatments such as chopping, soaking, washing with brackish water followed by washing with fresh water, air drying, and ensiling to help reduce or moderate the adverse effect (Gul et al., 2014).

Ramirez-Restrepo et al. (2004) showed for a New Zealand region with soil moisture deficits that sheep fed on Lotus corniculatus had higher live weight gain and wool production, and the animals were free from internal parasites, saving expenses with medicines (attributed to the presence of 2.4-2.7% condensed tannins on dry weight basis). In a review of the use of halophytes for livestock feed in arid and semiarid regions of Pakistan, Gul et al. (2014) highlighted many benefits of using halophytes plants. Perennial halophyte grasses like Distichlis palmerii and Leptochloa fusca have a low cost since they do not require annual re-seeding and they are successfully used as forage for cattle worldwide. The review by Gul et al. (2014) also described many species capable of producing biomass of 40 to 50 Mg/ha annually providing high-quality fodder with low anti-nutrient compounds and low ash content.

Social aspects

Social considerations are also very important for livestock and SPS activities in arid regions, especially when considering the adoption of new management strategies. Studies on the cost of implementation of SPS, economic evaluation and farmers perceptions should also receive more attention, both in the Caatinga and worldwide. Issues such as animal selection, educational level of farmers, gender role, land concentration, and local economy play important roles in land management in arid regions too as everywhere else.

In the Caatinga, for example, most farms are less than 10 ha in area and most farmers do not know the concept of overgrazing. In an effort to intensity land use, sometimes they adopt poor management practices that compromise the system's resilience, threatening food security (Araújo Filho, 2013). The lack of interest to adopt sustainable practices in a region in the Caatinga was reported to be associated with poor education level of farmers and smaller land-holding size (Nunes et al., 2014). Educational projects and enabling land policies are of utmost importance in the region, which is, again, universally true.

Although some animal species may be preferred for ecological aspects, farmers may have important concerns that are not limited to just livestock productivity. In a study about decision models in a dryland in Zimbabwe, goats were almost always preferred compared to cattle, the opposite occurred only when cattle were used for draft power. Although cattle productivity decreased due to this activity, the considerable increase in crop production was reported to have compensated for that, especially by wealthier farmers (Milner-Gulland et al., 1996).

Gender roles also should be considered for any future projects, and it may play a key role in rural projects. Nunes et al. (2014) found that in a region in the Caatinga, 90% of the farmers are male, whereas in Africa, poverty alleviation and rural business development programs were successful when women were involved in the programs. Consideration of gender roles may also be important in the semiarid regions in Brazil and elsewhere.

Economic activities in the region can also push farmers to adopting a specific activity. In the Caatinga, for example, the firewood activity generates about 90,000 direct jobs in the rural zone and have become attractive during the past few years. Although in general this practice causes deforestation, a different output is described when the firewood-gatherers received governmental support. In 2015, a total of 4,000 families in 468 sustainable forestry management plans were maintaining or increasing the biodiversity of plants, with positive impacts on fauna, and increasing their domestic income (Gariglio, 2015). These management plans supported by the government, by collecting wood in the dry season when the crop production stopped, could also integrate livestock activities, which could eventually lead to an economic development in the region.