Grasslands are known to play a vital role in the global carbon cycle [1]. The paramo and puna grassland ecosystems are the most widespread in the world. They are important in protecting the natural environment and the socioeconomic development of rural populations [2]. Grassland ecosystems differ in the composition and appearance of plant and animal species depending on location and climate, and they cover a large part of the planet’s ice-free land surface [3].

These ecosystems are characterised by great spatial heterogeneity in structure, aboveground biomass production, forage quality for livestock, mosaics of vegetation types that show short-growing species with high nutritional quality for livestock, and tall grasses of lower quality [4] and other important services for the local community [5].

Grasslands provide a set of ecosystems sociocultural and biodiversity regulation services and provide forage to feed more than 80% of the national livestock, contributing substantially to food security [6]. High Andean grasslands are highly sensitive ecosystems to climate change and anthropogenic activity [7]. Grasslands are enormous in their extent, and native and non-native grasslands now cover approximately 50% of the global terrestrial environment.

The composition and structure of the plant formations are heterogeneous. However, the average level of similarity between vegetal formations suggests that it is more feasible to carry out improvement processes between spaces shared by grasslands of Festuca and Calamagrostis and with less success in plant formations of puna grass [8]. Human intervention in grassland ecosystems affects biodiversity, primary productivity, and ecosystem stability due to species’ decline [9].

The use of natural pastures has occurred since colonial times. However, it has not been the most appropriate, causing in many areas of Peru an imbalance in the ecology itself so that today, vast areas with considerable reductions in their productive potential foraging, different degrees of erosion, desirable botanical species in extinction, greater presence of undesirable and invasive plants that compete with good forage, and so, can be observed. This situation impacts low biomass production and, consequently, the low productive yields of grazing livestock. Forage species are mainly divided into grasses and legumes. The floristic composition of grasslands and their distribution pattern varies depending on topography, soil type and climate [10]. The floristics of grasses are dominated in the upper stratum by grasses of the genera Festuca, Calamagrostis and Stipa, while in the lower stratum, grasses and short grasses predominate and, to a small extent, legumes [11]. The floristic diversity of grasslands is not homogeneously distributed worldwide, with strong differences in the number of species they contain [12]. Forage grasses are the main food source for herbivores, as they grow spontaneously on most grasslands. These adapt easily to climate variations and provide most of the dry matter and carbohydrates animals consume. They belong to the monocotyledons characterised by shallow roots in most species, cylindrical stems with nodes, alternate leaves with parallel veins, leaf bases usually wrapped around the stem, and their flowers usually are spikelets [13].

Legumes, plants belonging to the dicotyledonous group, are frequently used to increase the protein portion of the animals’ ration. They constitute the most important group after grasses, mainly due to their forage value and the capacity to enrich the soil through atmospheric nitrogen fixation. Some of their characteristics are deep roots and nitrifying nodules, that is, small nodules that fix nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria of the Rhizobium genus; the leaves are broad and usually composed of three or more leaflets, and the seeds almost always grow within a pod or legume [14]. Forages are the predominant feeding alternative within the different livestock production systems in the tropics; however, they often have limitations in quantity and quality [15].

The highest yields in dry matter are obtained during the rainy season, decreasing in the low rainfall season [16]. Similar results were reported [14], which corroborate that in periods of high rainfall, there is a greater supply of forage and higher dry matter yields [17]. Natural grasslands include all plant species that develop in a given area. In the case of the high Andean Puna, these can be made up of scrub forests, chaparral, or grasslands. The climax vegetation is in balance with the environment, as is the case of the “ichu” grass, also known as Peruvian feathergrass, which can be altered by the action of man (burning of pastures) or domestic animals (overgrazing) [18].

Grasslands are considered the largest managed ecosystem on the planet and are exposed to the combined effects of frequent human activities and ongoing global climate change [19]. Currently, the native grasslands of the high Andean zone of Peru are overgrazed due to the insufficiency of animal species and the number of animals per unit area in the native grassland. The consequences are a decrease in the native forage potential, soil erosion, decreased vegetation cover, low production, and decreased productivity of the primary products of economic activity.

Land use has substantial restrictions in this area due to its proximity to the Ampay National Sanctuary protected natural area, a buffer zone. The glacier is a water reservoir that allows the productive activities of the peasants to be prolonged in the buffer zone of the Ampay National Sanctuary and the valley of the Pachachaca River [20]. The rural populations near the Ampay National Sanctuary are grouped into Peasant Communities (P.C.) and Associations of Small Agricultural Producers (A.P.A.), which make up a total of nine groups [21].

In the Andean grasslands of the upper area of the Ampay National Sanctuary, overgrazing causes alterations in both the vegetation and the microclimate, so it is necessary to propose management strategies to preserve the ecosystems. The purpose of this research has been to evaluate the vegetation cover, botanical composition, carrying capacity, and soil erosion by applying rapid, reliable methods recommended to promote adequate management of natural grasses. The management is aimed at conserving them, using them appropriately, without activities that put at risk to the production of natural pastures, showing the benefits that these have for animals and man, as well as identifying the activities carried out by the residents of the areas surrounding the Ampay National Sanctuary.

Study area location and weather

Table 1 and Figure 1 show that the Ampay glacier is part of the Vilcabamba mountain range. It is in the region of Apurimac, province of Abancay; its maximum altitude is 5,235 masl (metres above sea level), geographically located at the coordinates 72° 55’ to 72° 54’ from west latitude and 13° 33’ to 13° 34’ south longitude. The climate in Abancay is 16.7 °C annual mean temperature and 685 mm annual average rainfall [20]. The access to the Ampay glacier from Abancay city is by a paved road, travelling 51 km to Karcatera, where it is possible to find informative signs, and then following a 6-hour road to reach the base camp [20]. The areas of interest of this research were the grasslands of the communities surrounding the upper area of the National Sanctuary of the Ampay, from 3500 to 4500 masl. The Sanctuary area has 3,635.50 ha, whereas the high Andean zone has 100% grazing land with natural pastures mostly destined for feeding cattle or sheep.

Table 1.

Access routes to the Sanctuary from the city of Abancay

Route name	Itinerary	Travel time one way [h]
Central	Abancay – Arcopunco – Visitor Center – Supaywayq’o-Ankasqocha Lagoon – Tuturpampa – Usphaqocha Lagoon – Foot of the Nevado Ampay Left	6
West	Abancay – Karkatera – Chakiqocha – Willkaqocha – Nevado Ampay	5

The inhabitants inside the Sanctuary carry out subsistence agricultural activities such as cultivating potatoes, corn and other native crops, as well as sheep and cattle farming in a controlled way. On a smaller scale, they extract medicinal and edible plants, among which we can mention the “limancho” (Peperomia pellucida) and “ullpu” (Asplenium squamosum), both used in their food [21].

Figure 1.

Geographical location of Ampay National Sanctuary [20]

Figure 2 and Table 2 represent the mean annual temperature and precipitation fluctuation from 1991−2017 based on the data observed in Abancay, obtained from the National Meteorological and Hydrological Service (SENAMHI). Two well-defined seasons are observed: a rainy period from October to April and a dry season between May and September. Temperatures decrease between 2300 to 3600 masl, and the average temperature varies between 11 °C and 16 °C. Then colder temperatures are seen that correspond to the puna, from 3800 to 4800 masl, where the temperature varies from 0 °C to 10 °C. Finally, temperatures below 0 °C are distinguished by snowfall in altitudes of 5000 masl, such as those recorded in the glacier. Precipitation in the high parts reaches up to 710 mm annually. The greatest rainfall occurs between January and March [22].

Figure 2.

Graphical representation of the annual average temperature and rainfall in the period 1991–2017; no data are available for years 1994−1995 and 2010−2014

The areas of interest were selected using vegetation cover maps prepared from field information. The study was conducted in grasslands with tall grasses, such as Festuca dolichophylla, and short grasses, such as Calamagrostis heterophylla. The grasslands are characterised by the presence of tall grasses with hard leaves, among which Festuca, Stipa ichu, and Calamagrostis stand out, accompanied by herbaceous vegetation with simple or poorly branched stems.

Three-step transection method

The three-step evaluation method applied to evaluate vegetation is illustrated by a flow chart in Figure 3. Parker [25] described this method for natural meadow evaluations because it allowed the identification of the associations of native grasses with simple and safe procedures consisting of three different steps.

Figure 3.

Three-step method flow chart

First Step.

For rapid evaluations in areas with herbaceous vegetation and areas with dispersed vegetation, the method of lines with intercept points is appropriate to apply [26]. It is easy, simple and comparatively fast to obtain accurate estimates of the coverage and frequency in low-rise plant communities, where the plants have more or less compact foliage. Based on establishing a specific longitudinal line through which the length intercepted by each species is recorded, regardless of whether they are plants, individuals or accumulations of individuals, in a certain sense, the procedure can be considered as a height transect reduced to a minimum [26]. This method helped identify plant species and monitor grasslands through the evaluated transects, so we measured 13 homogeneous areas in the three evaluated sectors (A, B, C). It consisted of stretching a rope of 30 m in length, graduated every 30 cm. Fixed by stakes to the left side so that they are permanent, 100 observations are made in each line (transect) using a census ring of 22.5 mm diameter that is placed on the left side of the line; the transections must be done in the growing season of the plants. Each major subtype of vegetation has been studied separately; the distribution of the transection groups is carried out according to the usual grazing places. Each line has been considered an imaginary axis of a plot 30 m wide and 45 m long (it projects 7.5 m in length beyond each end of the line, for a total of 1350 m²). Certain standards were considered for the assessment of pasture meadows. The transects have been carried out during pasture growth (November to March). It is not convenient to stretch in “bofedals” (prairie wetland areas) or areas with high slopes, but rather in homogeneous areas. Figure 4 shows the census ring that allowed differentiating pasture species as palatable and non-palatable; this ring allowed the first step of the applied method to be accomplished. Figure 5 shows the distribution of the transects that were assessed while maintaining the distances specified in the applied method using the census ring.

Figure 4.

Census ring for pasture identification

Figure 5.

Parallel distribution of transects

When making the 100 observations, it is necessary to classify the species recorded as Most Valuable, Intermediate, or Less Valuable (the most important from the forage point of view are the first two). The annotations are registered in a table of 100 cells. Annual plants are not recorded; they are only used as indicators of pasture trends. The Basal Area Index of forage plants is obtained by adding the annotations corresponding to the Most Valuable and Intermediate species. The Coverage Index is the sum of the three categories of plants plus mulch and moss. Once the observations are finished, the species found in the imaginary plot must be recorded and registered in the place.

Within the imaginary plot, measurements are made of the leaf height of two or three of the Most Valuable forage species. Five individuals are measured on each side of the line, thus obtaining ten measurements, which allow the setting of an average and eliminating the error of appreciation that could occur when taking the height of a single individual. The height is measured to the apex of the leaf that reaches higher with an approximation of 0.5 cm.

Second Step.

The data recorded in the field were summarised in a numerical form, corresponding to the number of touches made on the Most Valuable, Less Valuable, and Intermediate species of each of the transects of the group. The sum of the three categories of each transect was then weighted to 100 to estimate their composition percentages. The summary table recorded the data referring to the touches on the bare ground, erosion pavement, rock, mulch, and moss, as well as the Basal Area index of forage plants and the Coverage Index. Finally, the average was found.

The classification and appreciation of the group was made as follows:

I) Evaluation of the vegetation where the transections were made. Reaching the final classification of the vegetation necessitated assigning points to the Forage Plant Index, the average composition of desirable species, and the leaf height of the species; these values must be previously interpolated with the standard table values respectively, and they were placed at the bottom of the working form. The evaluation used adjectives ranging from Excellent to Bad. II) Assessment of soil stability was made following the same sequence indicated above − first determining the Coverage Index score and soil erosion stage, then comparing with a scale of values specially made; the points were added, and in this way, the soil where transection was performed, was qualified.

Figure 6.

Natural grasses in sectors A, B, and C: grassland association (a), grassland with bare soil zone (b), high zone in sector B with natural grasses (c), and grasslands in sector C of Yanacocha (d)

Third Step.

Herbaceous samples were collected for the preparation of the herbarium simultaneously with their evaluation, and soil samples were collected from different places and altitudes in the study area to analyse their quality. The samples were collected from three sectors: A, B, and C. Finally, numerous photographs of the study area were taken, understanding that the objective was to determine the vegetation and soil quality of the high Andean area selected for the study. Completing the three steps yields accurate information on a grassland area, which can be analysed yearly or as often as necessary.

In Figure 6, the grasslands of the study area have shown associations of plant species (6a), bare soil (6b), areas with plant abundance (6c), predominant areas of grasses of Yanacocha (6d), which has allowed them to be evaluated by sectors. The pastures in rainy seasons are used by animals such as cattle, sheep and horses, which will be used for sale or self-consumption by the residents of the communities surrounding the study area.

The current state of the pastures and soils of the upper zone of Ampay National Sanctuary showed 13 homogeneous zones in the three sectors (A, B, and C). The vegetation exhibited five zones in good condition, four in a regular state, three in excellent condition, and one in bad condition.

The soil evaluation (for which nine zones were defined) indicated two good zones, six regular zones, and one bad. The plant associations in the study area were represented by dominant species such as Alchemilla pinnata, Stipa inconspicua, Festuca dolichophylla, and Festuca tectoria, whose development occurred in soils with good organic matter. Samples with the dominance of Festuca dolichophylla, Calamagrostis amoena, and Stipa inconspicua were identified with considerable vigour conditions.

The Faccha, Uspacocha, and Yanacocha sectors in Figure 7 define the dominance of species, critical zones, cultivation zones, and arboreal vegetation of the upper zone of the Ampay Sanctuary. The Faccha area presents critical areas where a meteorological phenomenon with characteristics of alluvium-type landslides has occurred for years. Yanacocha presents more pasture areas and major agricultural and livestock activity.

Figure 6.

Map with the zoning of sectors Faccha, Uspacocha, and Yanacocha

Figure 8 shows the dominance of plant associations by sectors (A, B, C), with 13 homogeneous evaluation zones from 3500 masl to 4500 masl, showing associations between the Calamagraostis, Festuca, and Poa species.

Figure 7.

Species dominance associations in Sectors A, B, C.

Vegetation and soil rating

Table 2 shows the vegetation cover and soil assessment carried out in the 13 homogeneous zones and the three sectors (A, B, C). The names of the assessed sites within each sector are indicated. The relationship between vegetation and soil condition determines the productivity of the grassland. Evidence of soil erosion was observed due to the presence of Nevado Ampay and slight natural landslides and rocky areas.

Table 2.

Vegetation and soil condition in the upper area of the Ampay National Sanctuary

Sector	Denomination	Vegetation	Soil
A	Layme Marampata Zorraccocha Guerreana Mamaccoya	Bad Regular Good Good Regular	Regular Good Regular Good Regular
B	Machaypunco Tornoccocha Abra del nevado Tornoccocha Tornoccocha	Good Regular Excellent Excellent Excellent	Bad Regular Regular Regular Good
C	Chaquiccocha Yanaccocha Hilcaccocha	Regular Good Good	Regular Good Good

In Table 3, one hundred seventeen (117) transects were prepared, and 4,741 individuals were present. The most dominant species were identified by sectors, as shown in the table, indicating the plant species’ dominance in Faccha, Yanacocha, and Uspacocha.

For the evaluation of vegetation and the soil, the vegetation in the place where the group of transects was made, adding points to the index of forage plants, the average composition of the most desirable species and the average of points awarded to the leaf height of the species, interpolated with the values of the standard table, evaluated with adjectives from excellent too bad. The assessment of soil stability used the area score, the coverage index, then the state of soil erosion, and compared with a specially prepared scale of values. The points were added, and the soil where each transect was made was classified.

Table 3.

Species frequency and species dominance

Species	Sector A Faccha	Sector B Uspacocha	Sector C Yanacocha	Total number of individuals
Alchemilla pinnata	284	164	95	543
Stipa conspicua	101	59	26	186
Carex sp.	77	63	28	162
Fectuca tectoria	09	165	00	174
Festuca dolichophylla	198	245	00	443
Calamagrostis amoena	86	199	02	285
Pitptochaertium setifolium	36	07	41	84
Calamagrostis brevifolia	123	234	06	363
Poa annua	13	03	55	71
Paspalum bonplandianum	17	23	02	42
Gnaphalium purpureum	104	67	88	259
Agrostis brevicaulis	97	98	109	304
Luzula peruviana	88	15	78	181
Hipochoeris glabrata	59	36	72	167
Werneria caespitosa	26	35	34	95
Various	520	673	189	1382
	1838	2086	825	4741

In Figure 9, the plant species of the study area have been identified by families [30]. The figure shows the dominance of the families Fabaceae, Poaceae, Asteraceae, and Rosaceae, among others, allowing the identification of grassland species in the upper area of the Ampay Sanctuary.

Figure 8.

Predominantly observed plant families

According to Table 4, from 39 homogeneous zones in the three sectors, an average of 75.5% for vegetation cover between categories 4 and 5 is in regular conservation condition, with some evidence of laminar erosion in certain cases.

Table 4.

Vegetation analysis

Sector	Denomination	Coverage [%]	Category
A	Faccha	79.60	5
B	Uspacocha	67.50	4
C	Yanacmocha	79.40	5
	Mean	75.5	4.8

In Table 5, the soils showed good, fair, and poor characteristics. These results show that in communities surrounding the Ampay National Sanctuary, the inhabitants’ agricultural activities diminish the soil quality. In the three sectors of study A, B, and C, three evaluations of the vegetation were performed for each, determining that the characteristic of the vegetation was between good and regular.

Table 5.

Vegetation condition and soil status

Sector	Place	Vegetation	Soil
A	1 (15 transects)	Good	Regular
	2 (15 transects)	Good	Good
	3 (15 transects)	Regular	Regular
B	4 (15 transects)	Regular	Bad
	5 (15 transects)	Good	Regular
	6 (15 transects)	Regular	Regular
C	7 (09 transects)	Good	Good
	8 (09 transects)	Good	Regular
	9 (09 transects)	Regular	Regular

In Table 6, the condition of the grasslands in the study area was good to fair, with an Annual Carrying Capacity (ACC) reaching up to 2.2 AU/(ha year), i.e., 2.2 animal units per hectare per year. Overgrazing was notorious, with cattle, sheep and horses being the consumers. In the upper part of the study area, there are opportunities for raising cattle, horses, and sheep. The cattle remain in the high parts between August and May, coming down in June and July to eat the corn husk. The surrounding communities have agricultural activity that is complemented by livestock farming.

Table 6.

Condition of the vegetation by its loading capacity

Sector	ACC [AU/(ha year)]	Grassland condition
A	2.2	Good
B	1.7	Regular
C	2.0	Good

Palatability

To determine the grazing capacity, the support/bearability values of the sites were averaged according to the condition to find a value for each homogeneous zone of vegetation; with these values multiplied by the area of each homogeneous zone, livestock sustainability was estimated. On the other hand, palatability was classified based on the acceptability of the predominant livestock.

Figure 10 shows that of the total number of identified species, 57.80% have been more valuable species (palatable), 34.20% intermediate species (not very palatable), and 8% less valuable (not palatable) for livestock in the study area. Pastures not palatable to livestock are consumed very little but are part of the desirable herbaceous plant cover.

Figure 9.

Palatability of the total species identified for livestock

Vegetation and soil condition in the Faccha, Uspacocha, and Yanacocha sectors

In Figure 11, the herbaceous plant associations of the zone’s total area show a predominance of the families Rosaceae, Poaceae, and Asteraceae. It is known that some parts of this type of vegetation have medicinal uses, some as repellents and others as fuel. The data from soil evaluation indicate that the Yanacocha sector has better soil conditions than other sectors in the study area.

Figure 10.

Vegetation and soil condition in the Faccha, Uspacocha, and Yanacocha sectors

Previous evaluations of pastures in the highland areas under study are very scarce, which has not allowed for greater comparisons, with no precedents in the area that could serve as a reference, so we hope that this research will serve as a background for future studies of Andean pastures and their management in this area. It is recommended that self-sustainable development be promoted by strengthening the production units of the communities surrounding the Sanctuary. The study was conducted during the rainy season (November−March) to identify the greatest amount of pasture production. However, this season presents difficulties in terms of travel due to climatic risks.

Globally, grasslands are degraded more than any other biome [31]. Their biomass composition and floristic composition are varied. Ampay National Sanctuary is a good example due to the diverse native species identified in the vegetative plots of the upper area.

Soils of the Andean floor or puna, between 3,800 to 4,500 masl, are dark horizon soils rich in organic matter with grass cover. As it extends towards the upper parts, stony and abrupt soils of rocks and crags are spotted. The soils and vegetation of this part withstand drastic climate changes, low temperatures at night and sunny weather during the day. Due to ecosystem fragility, the soil and vegetation cover dry out quickly during the summer; however, during the rainy months, the landscape looks like a green grass carpet with humid soil, with abundant fog and cloudiness.

In the upper parts of the study area, there was a variety of natural grasses, showing some genera of species such as Calamagrostis and Festuca, as well as Werneria, Azorella, and Valeriana, distributed irregularly. As the altitude decreased, between 3,500 and 4,000 masl, there was a predominance of subshrub species, such as Baccharis buxifolia (Tayanka), Berberis lutea (Cheqche), and Lupinus, and in sheltered places Podocarpus (Intimpa), and Escallonia mytilloides. Below 3,500 masl, species such as Eucalyptus globulus (Eucalyptus), Buddleja incana, B. coriacea (Kolle), Polylepis sp. (Qewña), Escalonia resinous (Chachacomo). Furthermore, Schinus molle (Molle) was among the dominant species in the lower part.

Problems in natural grasslands are frequently caused by anthropic activities, added to the effects of climate change, that cause the loss of palatable species and decrease the availability of pastures for sheep and cattle, contributing to the scarcity of vegetation cover, increased erosion, soil compaction due to animal trampling, decreased water infiltration and retention due to lack of organic matter and microbial activity.

In addition, overgrazing produces an imbalance between the carrying capacity of a plant species association and the animal load to which it is subjected for a long period, and consequently, does not allow the prompt recovery of the pasture, also due to inappropriate management by the producer to maintain his livestock capital [32].

Throughout the evaluation, the condition of these pastures was linked to soil quality, topography, water availability and animal load, considering grazing and ease of use [33]. The soil evaluation indicated two good zones, six regular zones, and one bad.

The dry matter (DM) availability of the studied grassland is very dynamic and changes permanently depending on the time of year, growth rate and consumption of cattle and sheep. The results in the rainy season were higher than in the dry season. During the rainy season, the best environmental conditions favour the growth of plants, resulting in greater availability of DM for grazing animals [34].

The coverage of natural pastures corresponded to a 75.7% average per sampling unit of the three homogeneous studied zones. The most productive area with desirable species for livestock was Uspacocha, which had better soil conditions without overgrazing. The least productive area of natural pastures turned out to be Yanacocha. It had certain herbaceous plant associations in the study area, the predominant families being Rosaceae, Poaceae, Asteraceae. In the Faccha area, predominant associations of plant species were Alchemilla acheafolia, Agrostis brevicaulis, and A. pinnata, and in Uspacocha predominated Scyrpus rigidus, Agrostis brevicaulis, Festuca dolichophylla, and Luzula peruviana. Finally, in the Yanacocha area, S. rigidus, L. peruviana and A. pinnata were the dominant herbaceous associations.

The herbaceous vegetation of the upper zone was dominated by Alchemilla pinnata, Carex sp., and Festuca dolichophylla, considered desirable species for livestock, so pasture status was rated as regular.

The process of degradation of pastures was notably accentuated as the years went by due to the poor management of pastures and the influence of the rather hostile climate. Since the atmospheric state of the area, in recent years, has marked a notorious change in pre-existing physical conditions, it has become a fundamental factor in understanding the forms of adaptation and change at the level of productive practices [35]. However, the likelihood that the effects of climate change will gradually become more acute must also be considered. Failure to take the necessary corrective measures in the short term will lead to a drastic change in fodder vegetation, which will be very difficult to recover in the long term [36].

All vegetative formations have shown the genus Calamagrostis as the most abundant and with the greatest importance value, given its great capacity to associate with other species, the form of semi-erect growth and the abundance of tillers in each plant [37]. In the case of the central Andes of Peru, at altitudes higher than 3800 masl, it maintains its heterogeneity of richness in each vegetative formation [38].

In the evaluated vegetative communities, of the total transects evaluated, 11 families were found, the Poaceae being the most abundant, followed by the families Asteraceae and Rosaceae [39]. The communities surrounding the study area use much of the herbaceous vegetation for feeding, medicinal, fuel, fodder, and manufacturing purposes. This situation will positively affect the producers’ economy and must be conserved and propagated in the high Andean zone to support the existing animal load.

The carrying capacity is subject to the forage production of the rainy season since, during the periods of the dry season, the availability of forage is considerably reduced, so grazing management should be directed to the restriction of the grazing time in the pastures in the critical forage periods, especially the maximum use of the available pasture in the areas that are rotated in the rainy season due to its relationship with the availability and nutritional quality in the subsequent grazing cycles, which is facilitated with the use of divided grazing [40].

More studies are needed to assess the socioeconomic impact of climate change on agricultural producers. Ours comprises a comprehensive inventory, but we are not policymakers. Efforts are also needed to identify the vulnerability of communities with agricultural land, land tenure, lack of public service coverage, and other factors.

For livestock, it is crucial to develop studies that address the spatial distribution and variation in productivity of high Andean ecosystems and their effect on the sustainability of livestock production. Also, to estimate the impact of climate change on pasture biomass production and its effect on milk and meat production. There is not much information on the impact of climate change on livestock species in the area [41]. It is necessary to reinforce biodiversity and ecosystem service monitoring systems.

Closing these gaps should aim to generate relevant information to strengthen the capacity of residents, guide the scaling up of adaptation strategies, and develop policies, plans, or actions to reduce the vulnerability of the most affected systems [41].

According to the latest research, high biological diversity in vegetation, crops, and livestock constitutes an economic advantage that should be exploited by expanding specific markets, such as trout, sheep meat, beef and milk, and alpaca meat and fibre. Peru has an important comparative advantage internationally regarding alpaca and vicuña populations and second place in llamas. For this advantage to become a factor in the development and fight against poverty in the sector of small producers that possess this valuable resource, effective actions are required to overcome technological, social, and economic limiting factors. The security bases in agricultural production in the Andes have been spatial management and ecological complementarity [42]. As one of the possible answers, there is an immediate need to recognise the importance of the traditional knowledge of the populations that have lived for centuries in the Andes and that, based on their experience, have developed complex systems for the use of resources (with greater resilience) as well as a worldview that respects the environment.

Precipitation and temperature are factors influencing the composition of grassland plant associations as well as biomass. Functional traits and biomass among various plant community types versus environmental factors demonstrate that precipitation drives floristic composition and diversity in temperate grasslands [43].

Grasslands are considered to have the potential to play a key role in greenhouse gas mitigation, particularly in terms of global carbon storage and enhanced carbon sequestration [44]. In the case of the upper zone of the Ampay Sanctuary, the pastures are showing an increase in the growth of livestock activities in the area, and it is necessary to implement mitigation actions for the recovery of bare soil due to the use of animals to increase the productivity of the pastures. Grazing is a key influencing factor that causes the dominant species in the community to change and alters the composition of the plant community [45]. In the case of the study, grazing by cattle, sheep, and horses is a direct contributor to grassland decline. Grasslands are an important part of the global ecosystem and cover 37% of the Earth’s land surface. For various reasons, mainly related to overgrazing and the resulting problems of soil erosion and weed invasion, many of the world’s natural grasslands are in poor condition and show signs of degradation [44]. The agricultural activities of the surrounding communities degrade the pastures and increase the use of soil for agriculture, endangering the conservation of the pastures. Grazing, burning of grasslands, and agriculture, along with rainfall and temperature, could affect the diversity of grassland vegetation, so it is necessary to promote self-sustainable development among the communities surrounding the Sanctuary.

The composition and structure of vegetative formations are heterogeneous. The natural pasture cover corresponded to the 75.7% average per sampling unit of the three homogeneous studied zones. The most productive sector with desirable species for livestock was Uspacocha, with better soil conditions without overgrazing. The least productive area of natural pastures was the Yanacocha sector.

Certain herbaceous plant associations were found in the study area, with Rosaceae, Poaceae, and Asteraceae being the predominant families. In the Faccha sector, the predominant plant associations were Alchemilla acheafolia, Alchemilla pinnata, and Agrostis brevicaulis; in Uspacocha predominated Scyrpus rigidus, Agrostis brevicaulis, Festuca dolichophylla, and Luzula peruviana. In the Yanacocha area, herbaceous associations of Scyrpus rigidus, Luzula peruviana, Alchemilla pinnata, and Werneria caespitosa dominated.

The soil quality was evaluated as good areas to bad. The study area showed regular conservation conditions with eroded areas in some cases.

The grazing animal carrying capacity estimate was 1.2 AU/(ha year), currently with overgrazing. Continuous annual studies are suggested to preserve the biodiversity of native grasses.

Currently, the inhabitants of the communities surrounding the study area use many plant species for feeding, medicinal, fuel, fodder, and manufacturing purposes.

Thanks are extended to the Technological University of the Andes and the Institute of Development and Environment for their support in completing the research.