Pastoralism can save our planet
People are talking about sustainable farming practices a lot these days. This is because many people are beginning to see how important it is to keep our environment healthy. For instance, several global leaders came together at COP27 to generate a document that is intended to educate regenerative grazing and silvopastoral systems. Pastoralism focuses on the welfare of cows and aims to create a symbiotic relationship between cows and humans. In this blog post, we will explore the wonders of pastoralism and how it can benefit the world!
Pastoralism is a type of farming that relies on the herding of livestock, typically cattle (but can also include goats, sheep or camels). Pastoralists are those who practice this type of farming and it has been around for centuries, with some archaeological evidence suggesting it was practiced thousands of years ago in various parts of the world. It is deeply entrenched in many regions across the globe, particularly in Africa, Mongolia, Australia, Argentina, India, and Pakistan as well as parts of Europe. In fact, it is a way of life that people live differently in different parts of the world. In some parts of Africa, for example, pastoralists are semi-nomadic and move their herds of animals from one place to another depending on the time of year and whether there is enough water and grazing land available. In other parts of the world, such as Central Asia and South America, some pastoralists have settled down instead of moving around.
There are various types of pastoralists, each with their own unique characteristics. Nomadic pastoralism is one type, in which herdsmen move from one grazing area to another in search of food. Transhumance is the practice of movement between higher and lower altitudes or seasonal migration between inland valleys and arid plains closer to the coast. Agro-pastoralism combines livestock pasture with crop cultivation, often linked to traditional entitlement systems that have been in place for centuries. Peripatetic pastoralism involves regularly moving herds away from any fixed territory under the temporary control of a particular community as adjacent resources become depleted. Lastly, ranching is when sedentary communities create large land estates that are dedicated exclusively to livestock herding. Irrespective of the method, pastoralists often continually adapt their ways of life to the changing natural conditions within diverse ecosystems around the world.
The Mundari tribe, for instance, is an ancient pastoralist community located primarily in southern Sudan. Centuries of nomadic life has led the Mundaris to develop unique and complex cultures around their herding lifestyle. Mundaris are not only skillful herders, but they also employ their knowledge of animal behavior to create a sophisticated agriculture based on irrigation. In addition, their social structures within their clans help them to survive in hostile environments and trading systems with other tribes. To this day, the Mundaris are admired for their resilience and ability to successfully navigate periods of drought or famine while continuing to thrive as a community.
Benefits of Pastoralism
Pastoralism involves people moving herds of livestock across big, grassy areas. The animals eat the grass on the land that is too rough for farming. This is good for the environment and its inhabitants. Here are top 3 reasons:
1. Enriching the soil & preserving biodiversity
Pastoralism brings a number of undeniable benefits to the world of agriculture. Perhaps one of the most important is fertility; without large animals such as cows roaming pastures, which are often essential for fertility in otherwise nutrient-poor soils, food production would suffer greatly. Pastoralism also fosters an organic approach to farming; rather than relying on chemical intervention, animals provide a natural fertilizer that helps revitalize soil fertility with far fewer damaging consequences for the surrounding environment.
Through their movement, cows spread seeds and dispose of manure, which help with natural fertility and soil structure. This process also helps preserve biodiversity by reducing overgrazing and enabling the regeneration of vegetation. Pastoralists typically work with farmers to use the grazed areas for crop production, thus creating a symbiotic relationship between agriculture and pastoralism. This partnership supports both the native communities, accelerates chemical-free food production, and consequently, improves food security. The nomadic nature allows pastoralists the access to new resources when old ones become depleted while also avoiding potential overgrazing issues due to periodically moving their herds.
2. Mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration
The benefits provided by pastoralist populations extend far beyond just local communities as they play an important role in global climate change mitigation efforts. Pastoralists possess an ancient knowledge about how to use natural resources sustainably. This traditional knowledge has been passed down through generations and is now being recognized as an invaluable tool in the fight against climate change.
Pastoralists typically practice traditional forms of livestock management such as rotational grazing and herding. This helps to ensure that grasslands are not overgrazed, which can lead to soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and desertification. This type of holistic land management reduces greenhouse gas emissions from livestock production by reducing the amount of land needed for grazing purposes. A key aspect of pastoralism is its ability to sequester carbon in pastures and rangelands, particularly through grazing management practices. By maintaining the integrity of native grasslands, grazers are able to capture and store large amounts of carbon through the grazing process, helping to reduce emissions that can contribute to climate change. This type of sequestration is an important factor in keeping atmospheric levels in check while also sustaining healthy pastures and grasslands for both humans and animals.
3. Improving wellbeing & quality of life
Cow waste could be thought of as a problem, especially in the pastoralist communities that care for large populations of cows. However, inspired by the “upcycling” trend, pastoralists turn something traditionally thought of as a "waste" into useful products such as fertilizer, biogas, eco products and even biodegradable plastic for everyday use. The circular economy generated by upcycling creates a sustainable use of resources, which in turn can enable pastoralists to generate a reliable income without sacrificing our planet's precious natural resources.
Without having to resort to intensive production or relying on land cultivation, pastoralists are able to cultivate and manage the generation of eco-friendly products. Thus, they are able to keep a much lower carbon footprint than other agricultural methods. For example, roughly 750 pastoralists from South India that look after over 90,000 cattle of the native Pulikulam breed create and distribute eco-friendly products made from cow waste.
What are some issues pastoralists face today?
Pastoralists often migrate in search of resources for their animals, such as water, food, and shelter. Typically, pastoralists graze their livestock on large areas of land to ensure animal health and nutrition over the course of the year. While nomadic pastoralism is a great boon to the world, on the other hand, this burdens nomadic pastoralists to constantly move in order to sustain their animals' needs.
In many parts of the world, pastoralists face problems regarding access to land and water resources which continue to be scarce due to overuse and climate change. Additionally, as more governments pursue economic development objectives, pastoralists must contend with restrictive policies and displacement from land that has traditionally been used for grazing. COVID-19 has further heightened the financial strain experienced by members of this community, resulting in an overall decrease in their quality of life. Despite these many challenges, pastoralists remain resilient workers who are determined to continue finding solutions amidst an ever-changing landscape.
What can be done to support pastoralists?
Pastoralism is key to sustainable development. It can help achieve global goals for food security, poverty reduction, climate change and environmental management. Pastoralists are a vital link between people and nature. Their way of life must be preserved and supported.
Here are a few things you can do today to support pastoralists and pastoralism:
Advocate for the recognition of traditional pastoralist knowledge and increase awareness of the benefits of pastoralism.
Partner with pastoralists and create incentives for good land management practices that improve the productivity and sustainability of pastoralist systems
Purchase and support the development of sustainable pastoralist products
Support research on best practices in pastoralism and help disseminate the results to policy makers and others who can put them in action
Conclusion
Pastoralists live in harmony with nature and their presence is essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems. Despite the difficulties associated with pastoralist lifestyles, it is undeniable that these practices have served us well over time and continue to help many communities survive today. We need to find ways to support pastoralists so that they can continue their vital work in maintaining healthy ecosystems. This includes working with government policy makers and other organizations to provide the resources they need, such as education, training, and financial assistance. Admittedly, we are faced by several global challenges. By learning from and partnering with pastoralists, we can create a more sustainable future for all. What do you think we can do to better support pastoralists? Let me know in the comments!
