How cultures of herder communities play a big role in habitat conservation

Over the past few years, in East Africa, thousands of cattle have died because of drought. For the Samburu and other nomadic pastoral communities, it is increasingly a struggle to survive. 

Crises like these are being replicated across the globe. Conservation ecologists now believe that the best solution is to protect biocultural landscapes: the intertwined system of biodiversity, landscapes and cultural traditions.

According to Unesco, “the notion of the ‘inextricable link’ implies not only that biological and cultural diversity are linked to a wide range of human-nature interactions, but also that they are co-evolved, interdependent, and mutually reinforcing.” Recognising the importance of bio-cultural landscapes can be an effective way to mitigate climate change, protect biodiversity, and preserve cultures while improving livelihoods. 

Indigenous communities are key to this process. According to the World Bank, indigenous people constitute only five per cent of the world’s population, but they are the primary stewards of the planet’s natural resources; the territories they live in hold about 80 per cent of the earth’s biodiversity.

DROUGHT CONDITIONS

The Samburu have generations of knowledge on animal health and breeding practices. For centuries, they have stewarded indigenous species such as humped Zebu cattle, Galla goat and red Maasai sheep — breeds that are naturally resilient to the hostile, arid climate of the plains, and capable of withstanding drought conditions.

In recent times, with the introduction of exotic and cross-bred livestock, Kenya has experienced a catastrophic decline in native livestock diversity. According to the International Livestock Research Institute, around 32 per cent of indigenous cattle in Africa are at risk of extinction. 

The native species that the Samburu have traditionally bred are also far more disease and parasite resistant. With outbreaks decimating exotic livestock, many herders find themselves impoverished and dependent, while pastoral communities with healthy, hardy herds are assured of a steady livelihood and food.

Native breeds preferred by the Samburu are more efficient and cost-effective. They are adapted to available feed resources; exotic or mixed breeds generally require feed to be supplemented with expensive, usually imported, grain. 

The Samburu have an extensive understanding of the ecology of their homeland, and they now have a critical role to play in maintaining the integrity of the semi-arid rangelands.

Pastoral communities have often been blamed for overgrazing and loss of vegetation, and pushed off the land they have managed for generations. In fact, the regulated grazing method that pastoral communities practice actually conserves the productivity and biodiversity of rangelands.

INCREASE GRASS BIOMASS

A study published by the Journal of Arid Land in 2012 found that the Samburu way of designating wet and dry season grazing areas and moving livestock over the landscape, increases grass biomass and improves soil nutrients.

Well-managed grazing can help control shrub growth and disperse seeds, with trampling by animal hooves stimulating gentle grass tillering. 

Ironically, the Samburu have lost much of their grazing range to land and wildlife conservation projects. National parks now represent the biggest threat to the Maasai, Batwa, Samburu and other pastoralists, despite them coexisting with wildlife for centuries and maintaining natural ecosystem corridors for elephants.

It has been estimated that more than 14 million people in Africa have been forcibly displaced in the name of conservation over the past 30 years. To maintain the integrity of the landscape and to be able to make a sustainable livelihood, the Samburu must have access to their traditional grazing lands.

Research institutions are now recognising the important role that the Samburu and other indigenous people play in mitigating climate change and protecting natural resources. Maintaining biocultural diversity will be an important defence against the shocks brought on by a changing climate, and to do this, governments, policy makers and NGOs need to turn to local stewards of diversity. 
Danielle Nierenberg is president of Food Tank (www.foodtank.com) and Amrita Gupta is a Food Tank intern