1. Pastoralism and Animal Health –
Challenges
“Workshop of the Pastoralists Knowledge Hub on building an enabling environment for the sustainable
development of pastoralists in North Africa and the West Asia
Hammamet, 14 and 15 January 2016”
Dr Alessandro Ripani
OIE Sub Regional Represenative for North Africa
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2. Rationale of pastoralism I
Two-thirds (2,500-3,400 Mha) of
the agricultural land on planet
Earth is grassland
Limited rainfall, high altitude or
mountainous conditions.
High seasonal and inter-annual
variation of pasture requires high
flexibility and mobility
Various types of mobile livestock
husbandry systems have
developed that are well adapted
to these systems
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A sheep herd in Kyrgyzstan
4. Rationale of pastoralism II
Not in competition with human
nutrition because humans
cannot digest cellulose
Land reserves sustain
considerable human and
animal populations which
could not be sustained in any
other way in such areas
Pastoralist communities are
underserved by and under-
represented in many
governments
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Dromedary herd in North Mali
Kyrgyz sheep breeders
5. Rationale of pastoralism III
Risk of delinquency or terrorism
when pastoralist livelihoods are
compromised
Regularly hit by natural disasters
such as drought, locust
invasions or snow storm
catastrophes (e.g., Zud in
Mongolia)
Large areas currently
inaccessible because of political
unrest and violence
Threats from mining operations,
conversion to cropping or land
grabbing
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Kel Tamachek tent in North Mali
Kyrgyz yurt
6. Social-ecological framework for pastoralism
Semi-arid ecosystems
• lack of water
• seasonality of rainfall
• hot and cold areas /
highland-lowland contexts
• livestock / wildlife interface
Natural resources
• highly limited agricultural
production
• almost exclusive use by
extensive pastoral livestock
systems
• Horticulture, e.g. gum
arabicum
• mining, oil
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Energy
• lack of forests
• potential for renewable energy
• animal source fuels
Geography
• long distances
• lowland and highland contexts
Demography
• low population density
• limited governance
• conflicts (resources)
• Access to education, health, and
Veterinary Services
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Yak and cattle in Terelj, Mongolia
A ger (traditional felt tent) in Mongolia
8. Pastoral livestock production
Highly intensive vs. extensive
pastoral livestock production
systems
• extensive pastoralism is
almost the only way for
sustainable use of semi-arid
highland-lowland landscapes
Type of animals: drought-
tolerant ruminants
Feed and water: seasonal
availability of fodder
necessitates a mobile lifestyle
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Preparing for transhumance
in Chad
10. Threats to pastoralism
Land grabbing
Fencing
Detrimental policies on
• Land use
• Sedentarization / mobility
• Lack of social services (health,
education, environment, security)
Erosion / desertification
Lack of effective conservation /
protection of genetic resources
Conflicts / civil unrest / terrorism
Food insecurity / natural disasters
Transboundary animal diseases
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Health service for Kel Tamachek
in North Mali: nearest health
centre is >60 km away
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Poor water quality in North Mali A starving sheep in North Mali, 2006
An austere Kel Tamachek household
in North Mali
Water must be pulled up from 80 m
deep wells in North Mali
12. Unique potentials of pastoralism
Ecological potentials:
• Preservation of unique ecosystems
• High rate of carbon sequestration
• No competition with human nutrition as cellulose can
only be used by ruminants
• Animal excreta-derived fuels/fertilizer
• Human presence in remote territories
Economic potentials:
• Biodiversity / conservation areas
• Ecotourism
• Increased offtake of animal protein, animal products
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Animal source fuel and food conservation
Collecting cattle dung for fuel in Kyrgyzstan
Preserving milk with salt in
Naryn oblast in Kyrgyzstan
14. Future of pastoralism I
Community engagement, pastoralist associations, self-help
frameworks
Decentralized environmental management with active
participation of pastoralist stakeholders in policy making
Maintain mobility in socially and ecologically acceptable forms
Promote Global partnerships – World Initiative for Sustainable
Pastoralism (WISP)
Develop veterinary assistance with governments and private
sector involvement
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16. Future of pastoralism II
Pastoral areas are an indispensable part of future land
use.
It will be necessary to rethink local governance and
social services, including animal and human health,
education, transport, environmental management and
security.
Improved social services like human and animal health
services, locally adapted governance, and integrated
adaptive management will pave the way for the
sustainable use of pastoral areas, including, possibly,
moderate intensification and larger export markets.
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18. Improving animal health
Better understanding of pastoralist management practices and
movements to better deliver appropriate services
Development and application of appropriate technologies –
e.g., cold chain, heat stable vaccines, field diagnostic kits
Training and use of veterinary para-professionals within
pastoral communities with links to government and/or private
veterinarians
Provide preventive, therapeutic and nutritional interventions
Foster supporting policies, laws and regulations to facilitate
use of veterinary para-professionals and a high quality input
supply chain, including vaccination campaign and disease
eradication programmes
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19. A One Health approach
Health services are often lacking for pastoralists as well as their
animals
A one health approach to service delivery has merit
Offers greater efficiencies in service delivery – e.g., cold chain,
staffing, transport
Can better address important zoonotic threats, e.g., brucellosis
Promotes greater participation in vaccination campaigns by
pastoralists and their animals
Southern Sudan, 1990s. UNICEF Operation Lifeline Sudan
Rinderpest vaccination in cattle; Polio vaccination in children.
Chad 2000s, Anthrax, pasteurellosis, blackleg and CBPP in cattle;
Diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus in children (Schelling et al., EID,
13(3):373-379, 2007)
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20. OIE efforts in support of pastoralism –
Current I
Sensitisation of high level decision-makers on the
importance of pastoralism
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21. OIE efforts in support of pastoralism –
Current II
Establishment of an “Alliance of Countries with
Pastoralism Activities by Nomadic Populations”
• First meeting during the 2013 OIE General Session
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22. OIE efforts in support of pastoralism –
Current III
Nouakchott Declaration on pastoralism (October 2013)
Regional Sahel Pastoralism Support Project (PRAPS)
• 6 countries involved
• OIE contributes to Component 1 – Animal Health
o Support to countries through the OIE PVS Pathway
o Regional coordination through Regional Animal Health Centre (RAHC)
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23.
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25. Overview
Regional Project funded by the World Bank + national counterparts and
beneficiary contributions;
Six countries: Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad;;
+ a regional institution: The Standing Committee Interstate fighting against
drought in the Sahel;
Direct consequence of the statements and commitments made by the countries of
the Sahel, regional organizations (ECOWAS, UEMOA, CILSS) and donors during
the Nouakchott Forum in N'Djamena in 2013 to secure pastoralism and
assosiated way of life (nomadism and transhumance) in the interest of people and
Sahelian economies;
Peculiarity:
- Coordination of activities at the regional level by CILSS but implementation
at national level.
26. Project Development Objective
Improve access to essential productive assets, services and markets for
pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in selected trans-border areas and
transhumance axes across six Sahel countries, and strengthen country
capacity to respond promptly and effectively to pastoral crises or
emergencies
Améliorer l’accès à des moyens et services de production essentiels et aux
marchés, pour les pasteurs et agropasteurs, dans des zones transfrontalières
sélectionnées et le long des axes de transhumance dans les six pays
Sahéliens, et améliorer la capacité de ces pays à répondre à temps et de
façon efficace en cas de crises pastorales ou d’urgences
27. Beneficiaries of the Project
Final beneficiaries: Breeders nomadic and
transhumant agro-pastoralists;
Central and decentralized national services in
charge of livestock (including veterinary)
Private service providers (including
veterinarians)
Regional Institutions (CILSS, CRSA);
28. Structure of the project
COMPONENTS
1. improve animal health
2. improve the management of natural resources
3. facilitate access to markets
4. improve the management of pastoral crises
5. project management and institutional support
29. Thank you for your attention !
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