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Recent Submissions
Enhancing the resilience of Saharan rangelands by reseeding drought tolerant native shrubs: the case of Lygos raetam in southern Tunisia
Author(s): Ouled Belgacem, Azaiez; Ben Abdellatif, M.; Louhaichi, Mounir (XII International Rangeland Congress, 2025-07-22)
Date: 2025-07-22
Type: Conference Paper
Status: Timeless limited access
Lygos raetam is a desert and drought-tolerant shrub native to North Africa and West Asia. Goats and camels readily graze its fruits and flowers, and it is well known for its capacity to stabilise mobile sands.
This study was carried out in the communal rangelands of Dhahar, Saharan area of Southern Tunisia, to assess the impact of reseeding L. raetam on natural vegetation cover and sand mobility. A sandy rangeland site located at the border of the African Eastern Sand Sea was subjected to three management treatments: two years of rest, reseeding L. raetam, and free grazing (control). In all plots, total plant and perennial species percentage covers were determined and monitored for 5 years. Results showed that despite the improvement in the percentage of total vegetation cover recorded, the rest technique seems insufficient and inefficient in cases where vegetation degradation has reached an advanced stage. On the other hand, despite the negative effect of drought, there were considerable positive impacts of reseeding L. raetam on vegetation cover and active dune stabilization. The good establishment and survival of L. raetam seedlings may encourage rangeland managers and pastoral communities to undertake rehabilitation by reintroducing promising native Saharan species when ecosystems lose their natural resilience.
In which biome is the most degradation happening? The case of croplands, rangelands, forests, and irrigation water in Tunisia
Author(s): Yigezu, Yigezu; Louhaichi, Mounir; Annabi, Mohamed; Bahri, Haithem; Abeyou, Abeyou; Ouled Belgacem, Azaiez; Barbouchi, Meriem (XII International Rangeland Congress, 2025-07-22)
Date: 2025-07-22
Type: Conference Paper
Status: Timeless limited access
This study estimated the quantities and monetary values of ecosystem services (ESS) lost due to in/inadequate action to control agricultural resource degradation in Tunisia. We used a combination of GIS, remote sensing, and data from publications and official statistics to generate estimates of total and percentage of crop lands, rangelands, and forests falling in one of three (low, moderate, and severe) degradation classes and the corresponding biomass yield (ton/ha). We used a combination of market and non-market valuation methods to estimate the value of ESS lost due to inaction. The estimates are provided for each biome x province combination.
Using extremely conservative assumptions, we estimated that in/inadequate action is causing Tunisia to lose at least 1.97 million tons of potential production of different food crops, 209 thousand tons of forest biomass, and 2.5 million tons of forage from rangelands, and at least 736 million cubic meters of irrigation water annually. In addition, Tunisia is losing at least 141.68 million tons of soil which is also associated with the release of at least 779 thousand tons of carbon into the atmosphere. Rangelands constitute 73.51% of the total national soil erosion out of which 67.7% is happening in the five Southern provinces where erosion rates as high as 52t/ha are recorded.
The monetary value of all the ecosystem services that Tunisia is losing annually in all biomes is estimated to be at least $2.17 billion (4.65% of GDP). The main cost of in/inadequate action in the country in monetary terms is related to crop lands which constitute 53.98% of this loss followed by irrigation water, and rangelands which contribute 28.19% and 12.09% of total cost of inaction, respectively. These estimates have generated much discussion among high officials in Tunisia on the need to solicit funds to control land degradation, especially in rangelands.
Sustainable sheep ranching through regenerative grazing in the western United States: the case of Shaniko wool company on carbon neutrality
Author(s): Carver, Jeanne; Prado-Tarango, David; Talbott, John; Louhaichi, Mounir; Ates, Serkan (XII International Rangeland Congress, 2025-07-22)
Date: 2025-07-22
Type: Conference Paper
Status: Timeless limited access
Ranching has historically been one of the most economically and socially rewarding activities for many families in the Western United States. However, climatic and socioeconomic changes have brought public scrutiny to the environmental impact of ranching. Our Imperial Stock Ranch, with a 153-year legacy, has proactively addressed these challenges by adopting advanced sustainable practices to "make the land win" while producing commodities from dryland cropland and livestock grazing for local markets. In 2016, we achieved certification to the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), becoming the first ranch globally to meet this leading standard for sheep and wool production. This milestone enabled us to partner with renowned fashion brands, providing sustainable wool that was even used in Team USA Olympic uniforms (2014, 2018, 2022 and 2024). In 2018, we founded Shaniko Wool Company (SWC) as a Farm Group to expand the supply of wool in the US that meets RWS global standards. SWC now includes ten ranches, collectively grazing over 1 million hectares across the country. To quantify the impact of our sustainable wool production, we collaborated with Oregon State University in 2019. By 2020, a program was developed to measure organic soil carbon and model greenhouse gas emissions for the entire farm group using the COMET Farm Model. This model indicates that the farm group can offset all emissions from our operations. For instance, the Imperial Stock Ranch alone has the potential to offset 2,809 tons of CO2 annually, while the entire farm group can offset an estimated 91,444 tons annually. The future direction for our farm group involves certifying the entire group to sell carbon credits, creating a new income source alongside our existing production of food and fiber, sustaining humankind. Our commitment to sustainability not only benefits the environment but also strengthens the economic resilience of our ranching communities.
Examining the dynamic shift between pastoralism and agropastoralism: comparative insights from South Africa and south Asia
Date: 2025-07-22
Type: Conference Paper
Status: Timeless limited access
Often, pastoralism conflicts with cropping for land and other resources, leading to tensions between these two land uses. Nevertheless, pastoralism and agropastoralism can coexist, with the same people often engaging in both land use practices. However, the dominance of each land use is dependent on various factors, which are often dynamic. In South Africa’s arid zone, pastoralists have become spatially constrained through land grabbing during colonialism and apartheid, and due to the smaller size of the grazing lands, both land uses operate in proximity but vary according to climatic and socio-economic conditions and the governance of the land. Due to increases in rainfall variability and a reduction in rainfall, and drought recurrences, dryland cropping has declined whereby only about 12% of all croplands are utilized. These croplands are located within a matrix of arid, yet biodiverse shrublands that have been used by indigenous Nama pastoralists for centuries. On the other hand, in the arid zone of Rajasthan, India, livestock mobility as practiced by the Raika people is a mechanism to cope with climate change in search for better forage and water resources. Our results indicate that 80% of the grazing time was spent on cropland and fallow land along migration routes. In both cases, the rapid decline of cropping practices has had negative implications for livestock and concerted efforts needs to be undertaken to support this historic land use in rangelands that have shown to complement pastoralism in the face of rapid environmental and socio-economic change.
Estimation of water-induced soil erosion levels across the rangelands of Ethiopia: an integrated RUSLE and GIS analysis
Author(s): Abeyou, Abeyou; Yigezu, Yigezu; Louhaichi, Mounir; Haddad, Mira; Govind, Ajit (XII International Rangeland Congress, 2025-07-22)
Date: 2025-07-22
Type: Conference Paper
Status: Timeless limited access
Soil erosion poses a significant global threat, leading to widespread land degradation and the depletion of nutrient-rich topsoil. Understanding the spatial distribution of soil erosion is crucial for implementing effective management practices and preventing further erosion. This study utilized an analytical tool integrating the Revised Universal Soil Erosion Equation (RUSLE) with geographic information systems (GIS) to estimate water-induced soil erosion across the rangelands and other land use categories in Ethiopia. Rangelands, constituting 68% of Ethiopia’s total land area, are essential for the livelihoods of millions of pastoralists and agropastoralists. Input data for the analysis were gathered from multiple sources, including in situ observations and remotely sensed data with various spatial resolutions. The estimated soil erosion rates were validated using previously published data from literature. Our results revealed significant variation in soil erosion, ranging from zero to 250 t ha⁻¹ yr-1. The average soil loss across the country was estimated at 13.5 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, amounting to an annual soil loss of about 1.5 billion tons, making Ethiopia one of the most severely affected countries by soil erosion worldwide. Disaggregated annual soil erosion estimates indicated that the highest soil loss occurs in rangelands (18 t ha⁻¹), sparsely vegetated (bare land) areas (16 t ha⁻¹), cultivated areas (10 t ha⁻¹), and forest areas (8 t ha⁻¹). These results underscore the urgent need to implement appropriate soil and water conservation practices across rangelands, embracing Sustainable Land Management practices that can significantly reduce soil erosion. Such efforts will support sustainable land resource use and potentially unlock new opportunities for the country.