Cattle: A Cultural Keystone Species Shaping the Biocultural Landscape in the Swiss Alps

Conservation efforts over the past century have often overlooked how human activities shape biodiversity, both positively and negatively. Biocultural approaches now seek to integrate cultural dimensions into conservation, with the concept of cultural keystone species offering a path to more equitable strategies. This study focuses on Bosco Gurin, a Walser village in the Swiss Alps, examining human-species relationships over time. Interviews and historical data indicate that cattle are a cultural keystone species for the Guriners, playing a central role in food production, landscape shaping, and cultural identity. In return, Guriners use local knowledge to manage cattle through practices like grazing, mowing, and fertilization—efforts that sustain biodiversity and ecosystem diversity. The study highlights the importance of recognizing domesticated species in conservation and explores how socio-economic shifts have altered Guriner-cattle dynamics and landscapes. Supporting local stewardship practices is essential for effective, culturally grounded biodiversity conservation.