Conceptual framework for describing the environmental impacts of waste accumulation due to intensive animal production

The interaction between intensive animal production and the environment is complex and depends on the location and management practices. The waste generated from intensive animal production may represent a triggering factor for environmental pressures in the function of the volume and the characteristics, degrading environmental quality and affecting ecosystem services. The objective of this study was to develop a conceptual framework for the environmental description of the impacts caused by the accumulation of the waste from intensive animal production, integrating the causal-chain approach of the driver–pressure–status–impact–response (DPSIR) model with the causal network and ecosystem services. Therefore, a conceptual framework was developed that makes possible a comprehensive description of a set of structures and functions that interact in complex ways. The conceptual framework was validated through a case study performed within the scope of a hydrographic microbasin with intensive pig production. The conceptual framework developed made it possible to establish connections among the DPSIR components, including environmental perceptions and changes in the socioeconomic system. The impacts caused by the waste were considered as changes in the provision of ecosystem services and the socioeconomic system, identifiable in the proposed conceptual framework. The application of the conceptual framework identified the primary drivers that exert pressure on the system and has an impact on the ecosystem services, affecting the provision and regulation services. The development of this environmental conceptual framework contributes to the selection of the indicators and ecosystem services involved. This can aid in the promotion of environmental sustainability, providing subsidies for more adequate environmental policies obtained from indicators that reflect local conditions.