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