Page 27 - AWA Vol.42-No3

eNVIrONMeNT CONTrOl

hotspots.
The seasonal movements are often
called transhumance and can involve
distances over 800km in the driest ar-
eas. This mobility and way of life, coex-
isting with livestock, has had a profound
impact on pastoralist cultures, and is
reflected in pastoralist stories, songs,
beliefs and food systems. As such, much
of traditional pastoralist cuisine is based
on meat and dairy products, as well as
on the collection of wild plants. Follow-
ing the requests from two groups of Eu-
ropean countries, UNESCO recognized
transhumance as an Intangible Cultural
Heritage of Humanity, and more coun-
tries have already shown their interest
in joining this recognition.
4. How do rangelands and pastoral- because it does not replace the native According to the UNCCD, around half
ism contribute to global food security, vegetation; and second, livestock move- of the world’s rangelands are degraded,
biodiversity, and ecosystem health? ment helps plants regenerate while dis- meaning plant height, cover and biodi-

It is estimated that around 2 billion persing the seeds through their dung, versity are diminishing. At the highest
people depend on rangelands and that connecting different ecosystems. This degradation levels, soil chemical prop-
10 percent of the global meat supply diversity provides livestock with var- erties are altered, and rangeland deg-
comes from them. However, global data ied nutritious feed. Pastoral systems radation leads to salinization and soil
on rangelands and pastoralism remain depend on and have preserved a wide compaction. Due to the misconception
scarce and lack harmonization. Range- variety of locally adapted breeds, ap- that rangelands are unproductive and
lands are home to unique biodiversity, proximately 40 percent of which are at to a weak protection of pastoralists' land
including familiar species like wild threat of extinction, according to FAO’s use rights, rangelands are also regu-
yaks, antelopes, deer, water buffalos and Domestic Animal Diversity Information larly turned into other land uses, such
rhinoceros or some lesser-known ones System (DAD-IS). Despite the efforts al- as urban areas, mining, cropland, infra-
such as pronghorns in North America, ready made (for instance, countries like structure, or even tree plantations and
and guanacos in South America. They Spain have catalogued up to 160 origi- renewable energy projects. Weak mar-
support rich plant diversity. A recent nal livestock breeds), exhaustive data ket incentives, limited safety nets, and
study found that permanent grasslands on this genetic and cultural heritage is rapidly changing economies contribute
in France can support up to 100 differ- still lacking in many cases. to overstocking in some areas, which—
ent plant species. Pastoralism helps 5. What are the main threats facing combined with climate pressures— fur-
preserve this diversity in two ways: first, rangelands and pastoralists today? ther increase rangelands degradation.
In other regions, rural exodus leads
to rangelands abandonment and en-
croachment, resulting in landscapes
where neither people nor nature can
thrive. Pastoralists are directly affected
by these changes as they witness the
shrinking of pastoral areas. Mobility
corridors are also being disrupted, and
in some areas where transboundary
pastoralism was traditionally practiced,
countries closed their borders. Conflicts
over natural resources are rising. Pasto-
ralists also frequently report economic
challenges, such as low market prices,
limited market access, and poor animal
health. Due to these challenges, as well
as a lack of recognition, young people
are increasingly reluctant to pursue this
Circle 35 on enquiry card livelihood, resulting in a growing con-
Vol. 42 No. 3 25