Rangelands of Central Asia: challenges and opportunities

Abstract

Rangelands of Central Asia (referring to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in this study), the largest contiguous area of grazed land in the world, serve as an important source of livelihood for pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in this region. They also play an important role in absorbing CO 2 as a global carbon sink. However, unsustainable management of rangelands has led to their degradation hugely by downgrading their potential agro-ecological, environmental and socio-economical roles. This paper reviewed the rangeland degradation in Central Asia, a topic which so far has received only scant coverage in the international scientific literature. It also provided examples of successful experiences and outlined possible options that land managers can adopt to enhance the sustainable management of these vast degraded rangelands. The experiences and lessons described in this paper may also be relevant for other degraded rangeland areas, especially in the developing countries. The causes of rangeland degradation within the Central Asian region are numerous, complex and interrelated. Therefore, while addressing the factors associated with improper rangeland management may shed some light on the causes of rangeland degradation, the scope of this paper would not be all-encompassing for the major causes of degradation. There is a need to develop and widely apply the viable and locally accepted and adapted packages of technical, institutional and policy options for sustainable rangeland management. Incentivizing the collective action of small-scale pastoralists who group together to facilitate access to remote pastures can reduce the degree of overgrazing within community pastures, such as those near the settlements. We also found that migratory grazing through pooling of resources among small-scale pastoralists can increase household income. After their independence, most Central Asian countries adopted various rangeland tenure arrangements. However, the building of enhanced capacities of pasture management and effective local rangeland governance structures can increase the likelihood, which will be sustainable and equitable. Finally, this paper presented several promising technical options, aiming at reversing the trend of rangeland degradation in Central Asia.

Understanding livestock production and sustainability of grassland ecosystems in the Asian Dryland Belt

“…It was estimated that more than 60% of the world's rangelands have been damaged by overgrazing during the past half century (Repetto 1989;Reynolds et al 2007). Within the ADB, rangeland degradation in Central Asian countries were estimated to be 13.2% in Kazakhstan, 42% in Uzbekistan, 50% in Turkmenistan, 74% of Kyrgyzstan, and 90% Tajikistan (Mirzabaev et al 2016). Our independent estimates based on remote sensing technology, for degradations are 15% in Tajikistan and 38% in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.…”

Rangeland vegetation dynamics in the Altai mountain region of Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan and China: effects of climate, topography, and socio-political context for livestock herding practices

“…The characteristic feature of traditional grazing management system in the region has been seasonal vertical-horizontal movement between pastures (Baylagasov 2011, Endicott 2012). During the Soviet era, transhumant grazing systems were curtailed and rangeland management became more centrally controlled with provision of heavy subsidies such as veterinary care, winter shelters for livestock, hay mowing equipment, hydraulic wells, state-managed delivery of emergency fodder, and improved transportation (Bedunah et al 2006, Fernandez-Gimenez 2006, Endicott 2012, Benson and Svanberg 2016, Mirzabaev et al 2016, Eddy et al 2017. After the collapse of the Soviet Union centralized planning systems in many but not all parts of the region were dismantled and government subsidies disappeared (Bedunah et al 2006, Fernandez-Gimenez 2006, Endicott 2012.…”

Central Asian ‘Characteristics’ on China’s New Silk Road: The Role of Landscape and the Politics of Infrastructure

“…Environmental management has become a contentious issue in Central Asia as former Soviet comrades have become independent, and interdependent, nations where water is linked to energy and security [54]. Concurrently, increasing land degradation, driven by unsustainable irrigation and farming practices and overgrazing, directly impacts land and livestock productivity, incomes, and rural livelihoods [58]. Soil and water erosion, salinization, pollutants, and poor land management have contributed to >60% of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan's land identified as degraded and possibly desertified [53].…”

“…Soil and water erosion, salinization, pollutants, and poor land management have contributed to >60% of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan's land identified as degraded and possibly desertified [53]. Land and water systems are based on Soviet structures, are not designed for transboundary cooperation, and are aggravated by historical legacies [58]. Existing land issues are exacerbated by China's interest in such resources, land-take for infrastructure, and increased bi-lateral assistance [53,54].…”