The importance of being reliable – Local ecological knowledge and management of forage plants in a dryland pastoral system (Morocco)

Linstädter, Anja; Kemmerling, Birgit; Baumann, G.; Kirscht, Holger

doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2013.03.008

Cited by 43 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…These foraging decisions have impacts on biological diversity because herbivore foraging affects various aspects of vegetation dynamics (Landman et al 2012). Further, adaptive components such as deferred resting of grazing sites to protect forage plants during critical life stages are important in influencing vegetation dynamics (Linstädter et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Piospheric influence on forage species composition and abundance in semi-arid Karamoja sub-region, Uganda

et al. 2015

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Piospheres in semi-arid areas are gradients of animal impacts around watering holes. Few studies have examined the impact dynamics of herbaceous and woody species composition and abundance in relation to piospheres in East Africa. In this study, we identified the trend in piosphere development, assessed piosphere use and change indicators, and identified herbaceous and woody plant structure in relation to piospheres in the Karamoja sub-region, Uganda. Results revealed that piosphere development has been reactionary to drought and/or insecurity events and increased rapidly in the last decade. A diversity of herbaceous and woody plants exists around the piospheres. Use and change indicators revealed high trampling and grazing intensity, high presence of erosion signs and low litter cover. Gradient distance had both positive and negative effects on trampling intensity, percent exposure and plant height, respectively. A negative and positive effect of gradient distance was also observed on different herbaceous and woody forage species leading to the identification of both increaser and decreaser species around the piospheres. Therefore, as concentrated use of the piospheres continues unabated, an outward ripple effect leading to loss and/or increase of undesirable herbaceous and woody species will be felt. This will have an impact on the composition and abundance dynamics of desirable forage species in the sub-region.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Piospheric influence on forage species composition and abundance in semi-arid Karamoja sub-region, Uganda

et al. 2015

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“…In our research region, previous studies have focused on the dynamics of rangeland vegetation as the natural resource base [19], on mobility patterns of herds [20] and adaptive management strategies concerning forage plant species [21], and on the impacts of droughts on sedentary pastoralism [22]. Recent studies show that local institutions play a key role for the adaptive management of natural resources [23] and that commercial pastoralism is a valuable option for current mobile pastoralists [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptation to New Climate by an Old Strategy? Modeling Sedentary and Mobile Pastoralism in Semi-Arid Morocco

Freier

Finckh

Schneider

2014

Land

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Abstract:In a modeling study we examine vulnerability of income from mobile (transhumant) pastoralism and sedentary pastoralism to reduced mean annual precipitation (MAP) and droughts. The study is based on empirical data of a 3410 km 2 research region in southern, semi-arid Morocco. The land use decision model integrates a meta-model of the Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) simulator to depict perennial and annual forage plant development. It also includes livestock dynamics and forward-looking decision making under uncertain weather. Mobile livestock in the model moves seasonally, sedentary livestock is restricted to pastures around settlements. For a reduction of MAP by 20%, our model shows for different experimental frequencies of droughts a significant decrease of total income from pastoralism by 8%-19% (p < 0.05). Looking separately at the two modes of pastoralism, pronounced income losses of 18%-44% (p < 0.05) show that sedentary pastoralism is much more vulnerable to dryer climate than mobile pastoralism, which is merely affected. Dedicating more pasture area and high quality fodder to mobile pastoralism significantly abates impacts from reduced MAP and droughts on total income by 11% (p < 0.05). Our results indicate that promotion of mobile pastoralism in semi-arid areas is a valuable option to increase resilience against climate change.

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“…Davies et al, 2008;Tittonell, 2014), by supporting the diversity of rural livelihoods, which may be much more efficient than a narrow focus only on sustainable land practices and soil management. For instance, this wider perspective should avoid the erosion of traditional knowledge and weakening of local institutions (Linstädter et al, 2013;Schmidt and Pearson, 2016) in order to prevent crossing over human critical thresholds that may drive future land degradation processes (Easdale and López, 2014). Local ecological knowledge, the social values, and productive logics involving mobile pastoralism with informal rules for management, local breeding, or common property are at the core of sustainable land management in many drylands (e.g.…”

Section: A Step Towards a Multidimensional Protocol To Combat Desertimentioning

confidence: 99%

Zero net livelihood degradation – the quest for a multidimensional protocol to combat desertification

Easdale¹

2016

SOIL

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Abstract. The concept of Zero Net Land Degradation was recently proposed as the basis for a future protocol for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification to reduce global dryland degradation. It aims at reducing the rate of land degradation and increasing the rate of restoration of already degraded land. Whereas there is recognition of the socio-economic contexts that underlie degradation processes, there is a narrow focus on land and soil as the end core that needs to be protected. In particular, there is an essential human dimension to the sustainability of drylands that should be adequately tackled. In order to provide a wider perspective of the zero net degradation in drylands, I suggest considering the different livelihoods of rural households as a framework that encompasses the multidimensional perspective of desertification as a complex social-ecological problem. The scientific community must develop and apply the zero net livelihood degradation as an enhanced protocol to combat desertification that should foster sustainable livelihood outcomes rather than only sustainable land practices or soil management.

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The importance of being reliable – Local ecological knowledge and management of forage plants in a dryland pastoral system (Morocco)

Cited by 43 publications

References 42 publications

Piospheric influence on forage species composition and abundance in semi-arid Karamoja sub-region, Uganda

Piospheric influence on forage species composition and abundance in semi-arid Karamoja sub-region, Uganda

Adaptation to New Climate by an Old Strategy? Modeling Sedentary and Mobile Pastoralism in Semi-Arid Morocco

Zero net livelihood degradation – the quest for a multidimensional protocol to combat desertification

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