Brussels Briefing n° 26:
New challenges and opportunities for pastoralism
Is there a future for pastoralism?
Jeremy Swift, Pastoral development specialist
Brussels, 22nd February 2012
IS THERE A FUTURE FOR
PASTORALISM?
IS THERE A FUTURE FOR PASTORALISM?
• Who are the nomadic pastoralists?
• What have we learned about pastoralists?
• How do we move the pastoral agenda forward?
• Conclusion: is there a future for pastoralism?
WHO ARE THE NOMADIC PASTORALISTS ?
Pastoral nomads:
•
depend on livestock
• are mobile
• use community managed grasslands
• recognise customary rules and norms as a source of authority
WHO ARE THE NOMADIC PASTORALISTS ?
How many Pastoral nomads?
Depends on definition
Using the strict definition (all four criteria):
– estimated at least 20 million pastoralists in Africa
– perhaps 50 million in the world
WHO ARE THE NOMADIC PASTORALISTS ?
‘Nomadistan’
Population of ‘Nomadistan’ compared to other countries
Population
(million)
Australia
22.8
Ivory Coast
21.4
‘Nomadistan’
20
Angola
19.6
Netherlands
16.7
WHO ARE THE NOMADIC PASTORALISTS ?
Where are they ?
•
Dry grasslands, steppes, tundra, mountain pastures
• Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, South America
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED ABOUT
PASTORALISTS ?
•
Nomadic pastoralism is not an evolutionary dead end
• Pastoralism is a highly specialised livelihood system
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED ABOUT
PASTORALISTS ?
Mobility and land tenure
-
Collective management
-
Land grabs by farmers, the state, domestic and international
corporations
-
National parks
-
Pastoralists fighting back through the courts
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED ABOUT
PASTORALISTS ?
• Pastoralists’ contribution to national and international
economic activity is considerable but underreported
• Consequence of undervaluation of pastoral contribution is
under-investment in pastoral infrastructure
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED ABOUT
PASTORALISTS ?
Drought and risk :
-
Customary ways of managing drought now less effective
-
New ways to manage drought :
o drought management planning
o index insurance
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED ABOUT
PASTORALISTS ?
Pastoralists hitherto largely invisible in life and statistics
Pastoralists now increasingly engage with outside world
- starting to participate in elections
- desire for education
HOW DO WE MOVE THE PASTORAL AGENDA
FORWARD ?
1. Recognise pastoralism is a productive and efficient use of
resources
2. Make pastoralists visible in government statistics, especially
in censuses, trade figures and public discourse
3. Protect pastoral land
HOW DO WE MOVE THE PASTORAL AGENDA
FORWARD ?
4. Measure contribution of pastoral production to national
economy
5. Better representation in Parliament
6. Education
CONCLUSION; IS THERE A FUTURE FOR
PASTORALISM ?
CONCLUSION; IS THERE A FUTURE FOR
PASTORALISM ?