Sustainable livestock management plays a crucial role in food production, climate change mitigation, and cultural preservation. Our study aimed to identify and analyse the diversity of social–ecological conditions that characterize extensive livestock systems in southern Patagonia. We integrated data collected from interviews and secondary sources and analysed data using hierarchical cluster analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling to identify distinct ranching types. A qualitative analysis of key informant interviews identified key social–ecological changes for each type. The results emphasize the impact of administration, production, and biophysical factors on shaping different livestock ranching schemes. Further, we identified three significant social–ecological changes driving the dynamics of these systems, including shifts from (1) sheep to cattle ranching, (2) domestic to feral cattle ranching, and (3) landowners to tenant land managers. These findings have implications for policymakers seeking to develop strategies tailored to diverse realities, ensuring the sustainability of livestock systems in Tierra del Fuego.

可持续牲畜管理在粮食生产、减缓气候变化和文化保护方面发挥着至关重要的作用。我们的研究旨在识别和分析巴塔哥尼亚南部广泛畜牧系统特征的社会生态条件的多样性。我们整合了从访谈和二手来源收集的数据，并使用层次聚类分析和非度量多维尺度分析数据来识别不同的牧场类型。对关键知情人访谈的定性分析确定了每种类型的关键社会生态变化。结果强调了管理、生产和生物物理因素对制定不同牲畜牧场计划的影响。此外，我们还确定了驱动这些系统动态的三个重大社会生态变化，包括从（1）养羊到养牛、（2）家养牛到野牛牧场、以及（3）土地所有者到佃农土地管理者的转变。这些发现对于寻求制定适合不同现实的战略的政策制定者具有重要意义，以确保火地岛畜牧系统的可持续性。