Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin have found that incorporating llamas into landscapes revealed by retreating glaciers can help soften the effects of climate change. The strategy aims to speed up soil stabilization and foster growing ecosystems, with the study published in Scientific Reports.
Co-author Tim Beach, a professor of geography and the environment, notes that glaciers around the globe are melting at an alarming pace. This rapid loss creates unstable terrains that can threaten land rights and erode traditional livelihoods for local and Indigenous communities. The findings emphasize how thoughtful land management can mitigate some of these pressures while building resilience in affected regions.
Glacially exposed landscapes typically start with soils that lack nutrients and support for vegetation. Without intervention, natural recovery can take centuries. To explore a practical restoration approach, researchers partnered with Peruvian farmers to establish a test site spanning roughly 1 square kilometer in the Cordillera mountains. Half of the area received llama presence while the other half remained undisturbed. The team then conducted longitudinal monitoring of soil properties and plant communities from 2019 through 2022.
After three years of observation, areas with llamas showed notable enhancements in soil organic carbon and nitrogen content, along with a 57% increase in overall vegetation cover. Moreover, between years two and three, researchers documented four new plant species that had not appeared in the initial year, signaling accelerated ecological diversification.
The boost in soil fertility linked to llamas is attributed to a combination of manure, wool, and grazing patterns that influence soil structure and nutrient cycling. Dung samples were examined to assess the potential for llamas to disperse seeds. Analysis revealed 12 seed types in the manure, with five capable of germinating, suggesting that llamas can move plant species from lower elevations into freshly melted soils, thus accelerating colonization.
As mountain glaciers continue to recede in many regions, collecting data on how post-melt ecosystems can be managed becomes essential for informed conservation and resilience planning. The research adds to a growing body of evidence that animal-assisted land stewardship can play a meaningful role in ecological recovery, especially in high-mland environments where soil formation is slow and plant establishment is fragile.
Earlier reports highlighted the rapid and concerning pace of glacier melt in other alpine regions, underscoring the global relevance of studies like this and the need for locally adapted strategies that respect Indigenous knowledge and local governance structures.