Pastoral System Dynamics and Environmental Change on Ethiopia’s North-Central Borana Plateau—Influences of Livestock Development and Policy

Abstract

espite decades of research and development efforts, the Borana pastoral system is characterized by increasing poverty, wealth stratification, and food insecurity. The condition and trend for rangelands in the north-central portion of the plateau is deemed generally poor due to chronically intense pressure from large numbers of livestock in support of a growing human population. Particularly noteworthy is the emergence of extensive gullying and bush encroachment in several locations; in both cases the productivity of the pastoral system has been reduced. This trend is attributed to decades of development priorities and policies that have failed to provide incentives for surplus pastoralists to discover alternative livelihoods, or for herd owners to adopt resource management tactics that could promote environmental stewardship. The way forward is to dispense with laissez faire attitudes regarding condition and trend of natural resources and forge new collaborative partnerships among pastoral communities, researchers, and develop- ment agents to reverse environmental degradation where possible. This requires a transformation of local governance so that stocking rates can be better managed and innovative land-management systems can be adopted to better accommodate the increasing population pressure and more frequent droughts. Over the longer term, assisting those who wish to leave pastoralism can reduce demands on natural resources and promote sustainability.