Issues with pastoralist and agro-pastoralists in relation to natural resource management

1. Issues with pastoralist and agro-pastoralists in
relation to natural resource management
Presented at the Beating Famine Conference
World Agro-forestry Centre
Nairobi, Kenya
10-13 April 2012
Present Desired Future
Presented by: Susan Karimi
Programme Manager- Pastoralists
Livelihoods
World Vision -East Africa Regional
Office

2. Major Characteristics of the
pastoralists system
• In East Africa, mainly found in Kenya,
Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia and Ethiopia.
• Population of 20 million pastoralists and agro-
pastoralists.
• Inhabit ASAL areas
• Mobility for pasture and water
• They are an important link across the major
farming systems in East Africa, due to the
continually rising demand for livestock
products.

3. Issues in Pastoral System on Natural Resource
Management
• Land Degradation through:
Desertification
 Over-grazing
 Carrying Capacity;
 Water and wind soil erosion

4. The state of most pastoral lands in East Africa............

5. Issues in Pastoral System on Natural
Resource Management cont’
• Drought;
 Diminishes rangeland productivity,
 Adversely affects feed quality and species
diversity.
 Causes changes in the composition and size of
the herd.
 If it continues to the extent of rangeland
desiccation, pastoralists abandon the area.

6. Issues in Pastoral System on Natural
Resource Management cont’
• Sedentarization of pastoral communities:
Intensive grazing around settlements
Grazing around water points
Sedentarization without proper alternatives

7. Issues in Pastoral System on Natural
Resource Management
• Land encroachment:
Competition for the better quality rangelands
Imbalanced grazing management
• Land fragmentation:
• Lack of innovation:

8. Steps taken
• Training in natural resource management
• Reseeding
• Fodder harvesting

9. Critical lessons .............
• Give communities control over natural
resources including forests
• Establishment of resource management
groups for efficient land management
• Modern scientific approaches
• Better managed pastoralism
• Encourage eco-tourism
• Research and extension support for pastoral
systems