Pastoralism, the Backbone of the World's Drylands
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1 - Introduction Pastoralism, the backbone of the world’s drylands The path to greener pastures Pastoralism, the backbone of the world’s drylands 1 The path to greener pastures PASTORALISM, THE BACKBONE OF THE WORLD’S DRYLANDS Author: Andreas Jenet Co-authors: Nicoletta Buono, Sara Di Lello, Margherita Gomarasca, Cornelia Heine, Stefano Mason, Michele Nori, Rita Saavedra, Koen Van Troos. Editor: Paul Mundy Thanks to Lassina Ballo, Chiara Cannizzo, Eunice Obala, Agathe Pain and Rosmery Villca Casas for coordinating information gathering in each country. Published by VSF International, in collaboration with AVSF, VSF Belgium, VSF Germany, SIVtro - VSF Italia and VSF Justicia Alimentaria Global. Realized with the support of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). January 2017 This study was conducted as part of the project “Regional Consultation with pastoralist and livestock breeder CSOs – Towards better policies in support of pastoralism”, co-funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The content of this publication expresses the view of the author. It does not necessarily reflect in all aspects the position of VSF International, and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of IFAD. Citation: Jenet, A., N. Buono, S. Di Lello, M. Gomarasca, C. Heine, S. Mason, M. Nori, R. Saavedra, K. Van Troos. 2016. The path to greener pastures. Pastoralism, the backbone of the world’s drylands. Vétérinaires Sans Frontières International (VSF-International). Brussels, Belgium. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................... 6 Twelve narratives on pastoralism ..........................7 Framework of this report ...................................... 9 Information sources ..............................................10 Counting herders ................................................... 13 Defining pastoralism ............................................. 14 Sustainability and resilience .................................. 16 Regional diversity .................................................. 19 Conclusions ........................................................... 27 2. THE PASTORALIST ECOSYSTEM ............................. 28 Natural capital ...................................................... 28 Grasslands and drylands .................................. 28 Livestock ........................................................... 29 Water ................................................................. 31 Forest ................................................................ 32 Climate change ..................................................... 33 3. HUMAN WELL-BEING .............................................. 36 Political capital ..................................................... 36 Policies .............................................................. 36 Regional agricultural policies ........................... 43 Advocacy and empowerment .......................... 43 Indigenous or minority status .......................... 49 Mobility ............................................................. 50 Cross-border issues ......................................... 52 Land rights and tenure ..................................... 53 Human and cultural capitals ................................ 55 Identity of pastoralism ..................................... 55 Food security .................................................... 56 Shade trees ....................................................... 57 Rangeland management ................................... 57 Resilience .......................................................... 57 >> 3 >>TABLE OF CONTENTS >> Basic services ................................................... 59 Education .......................................................... 60 Gender issues ..................................................... 61 Social capital......................................................... 62 Civil society ....................................................... 62 Services to pastoralists .................................... 64 Extension services ............................................ 65 Social protection and safety nets..................... 65 Incentives for integration .................................. 66 Funding of services ........................................... 67 Animal health services ..................................... 68 Animal health personnel................................... 69 Conflict and insecurity ...................................... 74 Information and innovations ............................. 75 4. MARKET ECONOMY ................................................. 78 Built capital ........................................................... 78 Livestock markets ............................................ 78 Transport .......................................................... 79 Communications ...............................................80 Water points ...................................................... 81 Financial capital ..................................................... 81 Wealth ................................................................ 81 Marketing livestock ........................................... 83 Marketing livestock products ........................... 85 Barriers to marketing and how to lift them ..... 86 Outside investment ........................................... 88 Financial services .............................................. 88 Recognizing the value of pastoralism .............. 89 5. ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND INFLUENCES ON THE ENVIRONMENT .................91 Ecosystem services .............................................. 91 Influences on natural capital ................................ 94 >> 4 >>TABLE OF CONTENTS >> 6. CONCLUSIONS ......................................................... 95 Pastoralism as a livelihood in a territorial context .......................................... 95 Pastoralism towards carbon neutrality ............... 96 Land and mobility ................................................. 96 Inclusive policy making ......................................... 97 Pastoralist development across societal scales ...................................................... 97 Prioritization of structural improvements ........... 97 Knowledge exchange and communication ........... 98 Valuing pastoralism.............................................. 98 ANNEXES ..................................................................... 99 1 - Asian consultation. ............................................. 99 Statement and recommendations to IFAD. 2 - Consulta regional América Latina con ................106 organizaciones de pastoralistas y criadoras/es de ganado extensivo en preparacion del encuentro mundial del Foro Campesino (FIDA) 3 - Eastern and Southern Africa consultation: .........113 Statement and recommendations to IFAD. 4 - North Africa and West Asia consultation .............119 5 - Recommandations pour le FIDA concernant ......124 le pastoralisme en Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre 6 - Statement of the Farmers’ Forum .....................129 Special Session with pastoralists and Livestock Breeders REFERENCES ..............................................................133 5 1 - Introduction Pastoralism, the backbone of the world’s drylands © VSF Suisse 1 INTRODUCTION Over half of the world’s land area is camelids and yaks, have been developed in, grazed in various ways: in mixed farming and are adapted to, the specific conditions systems, ranching, by wildlife and through and disease prevalence of the respective dry- pastoralism. Pastoralism is practised mainly lands (Hoffmann 2014). on the grasslands that cover about a quarter Pastoralism supports several hundred of the world’s surface (Follet & Reed 2010). It million households worldwide (Pastoral- is also closely associated with mobile herds ist Knowledge Hub 2016). It manages one and with the drylands (WISP 2008, Robinson billion animals, including camelids, cattle, et al. 2011). Livestock husbandry is the most sheep and goats, in addition to yaks, hors- important method of producing food in the es and reindeer, contributing about 10% of drylands that cover 41% of the Earth’s land the world’s meat production. It produces surface (UNCCD) and are home to about 40% food and ecological services, and is often the of the global population. only significant economic contribution in Pastoralism is very diverse: it can be found the world’s poorest regions. It is the cultural in all continents, from the drylands of Africa backbone of longstanding civilizations (Nori and the Arabian Peninsula, to the highlands and Davies 2007). With its mobility and col- of Asia and Latin America, or the tundra in lective resource management, it is now rec- the circumpolar zones, and in particular ognized as a rational and sustainable liveli- where crop cultivation is physically limited hood strategy in marginal lands (Morton et (FAO 2001). The degree of social and political al. 2007). support for pastoralism is equally diverse, Pastoral regions generally have few alter- with some governments strongly opposed, native economic options. But despite their while others (such as in Europe) beginning contribution to national economies, pasto- to support it so as to manage and conserve ral communities are often marginalized and biological diversity (Nori & Gemini 2011). ignored. While pastoralism is a risky liveli- Regardless of the variations, the various hood, it