Transhumant pastoralism, sustainable management of natural resources and endemic ruminant livestock in the sub-humid zone of West Africa
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Augustine Ayantunde, Rainer Asse, Mohammed Said, Abdou Fall. (17/1/2014). Transhumant pastoralism, sustainable management of natural resources and endemic ruminant livestock in the sub-humid zone of West Africa. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 16, pp. 1097-1117.
Abstract
Transhumant pastoralism is one of the dominant livestock production systems
in West Africa, and it is characterized by seasonal and cyclical movement of varying
degrees between complementary ecological areas. The common pattern of transhumance is
moving herds from areas with pasture and water scarcity such as the Sahelian zone to areas
where the forage and water are found, often in the sub-humid zone. Whereas the transhumant
herds from the Sahel are mainly Zebu breeds, endemic ruminant livestock (ERL)
are the dominant breeds in sub-humid zone of West Africa because of their tolerance to
tsetse-borne trypanosomosis disease. These livestock fulfill different functions in the
livelihood of rural communities in the region. To identify potential areas of interventions
for sustainable natural resource management to improve ERL productivity, a desk study
that included spatial mapping was performed to review and document the existing
knowledge on transhumance in West Africa. Additionally, group discussions were held to
analyze the (actual or potential) effects of transhumant herds on natural resource management
and ERL in the sub-humid zone. This study covered sub-humid zone in The
Gambia, Guinea, Mali and Senegal. The key question we addressed in this study was as
follows: What are the key trends and changes in transhumant pastoralism and how do these
impact sustainable management of natural resources including endemic livestock? The
results of the desk study and group discussions showed that there have been more southerly
movements by transhumant pastoralists into the sub-humid zone over the past three decades
and this has contributed to growing competition for grazing resources. The presence
of transhumant herds in the sub-humid zone has a potential impact on management and
conservation of ERL through crossbreeding with transhumant Zebu breeds from the Sahel
but only study sites in Mali showed a high risk.
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Said, Mohammed https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8127-6399