In the tropical Americas, pasturelands occupy the largest proportion (60% to 80%) of the area designated as agroecosystems in some countries. The expansion of the area of grazed pasture has implied the loss or extreme alteration of natural ecosystems, mainly lowland and montane tropical forests and, to a lesser extent, wetlands. In spite of the increased area of pasturelands, meat and milk production of bovine cattle (the most widely used species in the region) have only increased marginally. Stocking rates and animal production indexes (milk l/ha or meat kg/ha) are low and make only a limited contribution to capitalization and rural employment. Within vast geographical areas cattle production is carried on unsuitable soils. This promotes environmental degradation in the lowland humid tropics (Amazon rainforests and others) and montane areas (Northern Andes and Central American mountains). It is important for the social and environmental development of the region that this trend of cattle production is reversed. Even though the reduction of extensive grazing resulting from careful land-use planning would be the most desirable approach, not one country has made significant advances in this direction. This is because of the complex situation resulting from economic, political and institutional crises, together with the absence of viable alternatives in a sociopolitical context. In the meantime, intensification of cattle production could significantly increase its economic and social contribution. Silvopastoral systems are fundamental to this process of change. The main silvopastoral systems (SPS), including those already investigated and those empirically implemented by farmers in the region, are: scattered trees in pasturelands; SPS based on managed secondary succession; live fences; high tree density SPS; cut-and-carry systems; fodder tree banks and cattle grazing in tree plantations. Of less significance are windbreaks and pastures within tree alleys.