Rangelands and Pastoralism of the Middle-East and North Africa, from Reality to Dream (original) (raw)
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Prof Abdalla Abdalla Soudan Pastoral systems in Kordofan 2015
The main resource-use pattern in Kordofan region of Sudan could be considered as a typical agropastoral system of Saharo-Sahelian zone. Northern part of the region is dominated by camels and desert sheep herders, while cattle herders traverse from the southern part -where there are savannah vegetations -to the Sahelian environment in the north during the rainy season. As consequences of drought episodes and some changes in land-use systems in the area, agro-pastoral communities facing multitude of challenges that necessitate the development of some strategies to cope with their environmental and socio-economic impacts. This study is designed to scrutinize strategies developed by local communities to enhance resilience in addition to evaluate the previous interventions put by some actors to enhance local mechanisms for conflict mitigation. A conceptual framework was developed to explain the interrelation of factors and attributes of sustainable development of agro-pastoral communities in the area. Political ecology and analytical approaches were followed. A key informant's questionnaire was designed and subsequently completed by interviewing 200 respondents. In addition to focus discussion that was conducted with some tribal leaders. Results indicated that the main challenges facing pastoralists were climate variability and its impacts on natural resources, conflicts/security and lack of basic services like health and education. Strategies developed by pastoralists to meet some challenges were herd mobility in searching for water and pasture, keeping drought tolerant animals, diversifying livestock species in favor of resilience to drought and herds splitting among their relatives. These strategies may enhance resilience of pastoral communities if coupled with the provision of a multidisciplinary approach that regulate access to water and range pastures via demarcation of the livestock corridors, revision of land tenure, provision of services and minimizing ethno-political polarization. Provision of such a multidisciplinary approach may pave the way for sustainable development in the region.
The main resource-use pattern in Kordofan region of Sudan could be considered as a typical agropastoral system of Saharo-Sahelian zone. Northern part of the region is dominated by camels and desert sheep herders, while cattle herders traverse from the southern part -where there are savannah vegetations -to the Sahelian environment in the north during the rainy season. As consequences of drought episodes and some changes in land-use systems in the area, agro-pastoral communities facing multitude of challenges that necessitate the development of some strategies to cope with their environmental and socio-economic impacts. This study is designed to scrutinize strategies developed by local communities to enhance resilience in addition to evaluate the previous interventions put by some actors to enhance local mechanisms for conflict mitigation. A conceptual framework was developed to explain the interrelation of factors and attributes of sustainable development of agro-pastoral communities in the area. Political ecology and analytical approaches were followed. A key informant's questionnaire was designed and subsequently completed by interviewing 200 respondents. In addition to focus discussion that was conducted with some tribal leaders. Results indicated that the main challenges facing pastoralists were climate variability and its impacts on natural resources, conflicts/security and lack of basic services like health and education. Strategies developed by pastoralists to meet some challenges were herd mobility in searching for water and pasture, keeping drought tolerant animals, diversifying livestock species in favor of resilience to drought and herds splitting among their relatives. These strategies may enhance resilience of pastoral communities if coupled with the provision of a multidisciplinary approach that regulate access to water and range pastures via demarcation of the livestock corridors, revision of land tenure, provision of services and minimizing ethno-political polarization. Provision of such a multidisciplinary approach may pave the way for sustainable development in the region.
AGROFOR, 2020
Pastoralism is a livelihood system based on extensive production of livestock (e.g. cattle, sheep, goats, camels) mainly on marginal lands. It is a traditional activity in the Mediterranean in general and the Maghreb (viz. Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia) in particular. This review casts light on research regarding pastoralism in the Maghreb. In particular, the paper analyses the benefits of pastoralism as well as the challenges faced by pastoralists in the region from the environmental, sociocultural, economic and political points of views. A search performed in July 2020 on the Web of Science yielded 113 documents and 68 of them were included in the systematic review. The analysed literature emphasizes the negative impacts of pastoralism and the challenges faced by pastoral communities in the Maghreb. These include climate change, land degradation and desertification, poverty and livelihood vulnerability as well as the ongoing erosion of pastoral culture and traditions. Doing so, schola...
East African Pastoralism in Transition: Maasai, Boran, and Rendille Cases
African Studies Review, 2001
Pastoralist societies in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) face more demands on their way of life than at any previous time. Population growth, loss of herding lands to farmers, ranchers, game parks, and urban growth, increased commoditization of the livestock economy, out-migration by poor pastoralists, and dislocations brought about by drought, famine, and civil war are increasing throughout the region. These problems are intensified as international development programs encourage privatization and individuation of formerly communally held resources. The examples of the Maasai, Boran, and Rendille of Kenya demonstrate that East African pastoralists are responding to the social, political, and economic challenges with increased economic diversification including agro-pastoralism, wage labor, and increased market integration. These changes result in increased social and economic stratification, urban migration, and diminished nutrition for women and children. Resume. Les soci6tes pastorales de l'Afrique de l'Est (Kenya, Tanzanie, Ouganda) voient leur mode de vie soumis a des demandes plus imperieuses qu' tout autre moment de leur histoire. La croissance demographique, la perte des terres d'61evage au profit des fermiers, des proprietaires des ranchs, des parcs d'attraction et du developpement urbain, la commercialisation accrue de l'6conomie de betail, I'emigration des dleveurs pauvres, et les bouleversements occasionnes par la s&cheresse, la famine et la guerre civile augmentent dans toute la region. Ces problemes s'intensifient alors que les programmes internationaux de developpement encouragent la privatisation et l'individualisation des ressources autrefois mises en commun. L'exemple des Maasai, des Boran, et des Rendille au Kenya d6montre que les African Studies Review, Volume 44, Number 3 (December 2001), pp. 1-25 Elliot Fratkin is an associate professor in the Department of Anthropology at Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts. He has conducted fieldwork among Ariaal, Rendille, and Samburu pastoralists of northern Kenya since 1974, focusing on the study of ecology, health, and social change among East African pastoralists. His publications include Surviving Drought and Development in Kenya's Arid Lands (Westview Press, 1991), Ariaal Pastoralists of Kenya (Allyn and Bacon, 1998), and African Pastoralist Systems: An Integrated Approach, coedited with Kathleen Galvin and Eric Roth (Lynne Rienner, 1994).
Range Livestock Production Systems in the Near East
2011
Several production systems, ranging from nomadic, semi-nomadic, transhumant, agropastoral to different forms of sedentary small holder and large-scale commercial units, exist in the Near East region. Hence enhancing pastoral production systems, sustaining resources upon which they depend, and securing livelihoods of dependent communities is of great concern. Several factors natural or man-made have caused resources degradation and resulted in production systems disruption thus undermining their longterm sustainability. Climatic and socio-economic changes currently taking place require practical and socio-politically acceptable interventions and more innovative production techniques and efficient management approaches to enhance production systems, concurrently sustain resources, and make these systems economically attractive and rewarding.
Applying Knowledge of Traditional Pastoralists to Current Range Management
2009
Pastoralism is an ancient form of subsistence that is still in wide use today throughout the world. While many traditional pastoral regions are the focus of current desertification studies, the long history of sustainability by these cultures is of great interest nonetheless. Numerous studies suggest that the land degradation observed in these areas today is a recent phenomenon attributable to changes in land tenure, management, and treatment, in addition to changes in the environment. This paper explores the suggested causes of land degradation and focuses upon applied land management and grazing treatments common to traditional pastoral cultures. Comparisons are made with western livestock ranching and numerous similarities noted. Historical observations suggest that desertification is the result of both climatic and anthropic factors with specific emphasis recently placed upon the effect of sedenterization and the subsequent negative feedback cycle initiated through partial-rest ...