Beyond meat: Ecological functions of livestock

Livestock production and meat consumption are major drivers of biodiversity loss and carbon emissions globally (1, 2). Governments and civil society will have to prioritize the reduction of livestock numbers and meat consumption [e.g., (2, 3)] to mitigate impacts and achieve international sustainability goals. However, traditional livestock systems also play a role in biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and socioecological resilience at regional and local scales.