Overview: Pastoralism in the world

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of global pastoralism, including the definition, forms, structures, origin, development, distribution, value, and future of pastoralism. Pastoralism can be defined as mobile livestock herding in the dimension of either production or livelihood. Nomadic and transhumant rearing of domesticated animals are generally two essential forms of pastoralism, with pastoral farming/enclosed ranching as the third form of pastoralism in the broad meaning. A clan is generally the basis of pastoral organization, which is responsible for the control of the optimum territory and management of the livestock species herded in every corner of the world. Most of the burden of pastoral activities is borne by women, and empowering women remains a challenge in most of the pastoral regions across the world. Although the emergence of pastoralism was a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, primitive hunting has been commonly accepted as the primary source. The origin of pastoralism can be dated to 6000 B.P. in the Andes of South America, and even as early as 9000 B.P. in Northeast Africa. A multiple-center origination is more probable than a single-center origination for explaining the spread of pastoralism worldwide. Currently, extensive pastoralism occurs on about 25% of Earth’s land area, mostly in the developing world, from the drylands of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula to the highlands of Asia and Latin America. Globally, pastoralism is critically important in supporting huge human populations, providing tremendous ecological services, maintaining long-standing civilizations, and making significant contributions to subsistence economy in some of the world’s poorest regions. However, the practices of pastoralism have been overwhelmed by agricultural expansion, industrial development, and sedentary livestock farming in recent decades. Pastoral societies across the world will have more unpleasant fates with the stress of global change in the future.