1.
Sustainable Rangelands
Sustainable Pastoralism
in Yak Herding Areas
of the Tibetan Plateau & Central Asia
International Rangeland Congress 2016 (Saskatoon, Canada)
Plenary Session: High Altitude Rangelands of the World
J Marc Foggin, PhD
UNIVERSITY
OF CENTRALASIA

2.
Sustainable Rangelands
Sustainable Pastoralism
in the Greater Tibetan Plateau
High Altitude Rangelands of the World…
Sustainable Rangelands
Sustainable Pastoralism
in the Greater Tibetan Plateau

3.
High Altitude Rangelands of Asia
Tibetan Plateau | Himalayan Range | Mountains of Central Asia

4.
Tibetan wild ass
(kiang)

5.
Bar headed geese

6.
Grey wolf

7.
Lammergeyer

8.
Upland buzzard

9.
Plateau pika

10.
Tibetan fox

11.
Snow leopard

12.
Wild yak

13.
Domestic yak

14.
Tibetan Pastoralism

15.
Sustainability Rangelands
Pastoralism Tibet & CA

16.
Distribution of yak (and yak hybrids)

17.
Plan for today…
At a broad level:
 What is our goal?
 How do we get there?
— need for an enhanced
model of Sustainability
And more specifically:
 Five key messages
(lessons learned)

18.
Sustainable Rangelands
What is our main goal as scientists?
 To develop ‘perfect models’ of economic behaviour, on
the basis of well-studied rangeland ecosystems? (or)
 To develop (possibly ‘sub-optimal’) integrative models,
and recommend interventions that will be adopted by
herders? – value of grasslands ‘richer’ than economics
Sustainable Pastoralism

19.
Sustainable Rangelands
Sustainability = adoption of strategies
 The processes of searching for and developing sustainable
solutions may be as important as final product themselves
 Adoption often requires a ‘sense of ownership’ — enhanced
through local participation, ideally with a co-development
of ideas, also a supportive financing & policy environment
Sustainable Pastoralism

20.
How do we get there?

21.
In the High Altitude Rangelands…
An integrative model = multiple dimensions
 Environmental (livestock, ecosystem services, biodiversity)
 Economic (utilization of natural resources, human needs)
 Social (development aspirations, incl. cultural aspects)
 Also must consider: local histories, culture, politics…
Pastoralism  Rangelands  Sustainability

22.
Different forms of pastoralism
 Nomadism
Seasonal movements, varying from year to year
Often without any village or permanent settlement
 Transhumance
Seasonal migrations, moving to higher pastures in summer
Regular encampments, winter settlements, some farming
… and everything in between
Pastoralism  Rangelands  Sustainability

23.
Pastoralist regions
IUCN | Ecosystem Management: World Initiative for Sustainable Pastoralism (WISP)

24.
Rangelands
(natural environment)
 Where are rangelands? What forms? What extent?
 What ecosystem goods and services? What value?
Pastoralism  Rangelands  Sustainability

25.
Rangelands
& Wetlands
Pastoralism  Rangelands  Sustainability

26.
Climate
change
Pastoralism  Rangelands  Sustainability

27.
Provisioning
Supporting
Cultural
Regulating

28.
Ecosystem Services
& Human Wellbeing

29.
Total Economic Value (TEV) ?
Pastoralism  Rangelands  Sustainability

30.
SUSTAINABILITY
– an expanded synthesis!
 Four Pillars of Sustainability
 Economy / development
 Environment / ecology
 Social dimensions
 Cultural aspects
Pastoralism  Rangelands  Sustainability

31.
How can we achieve decisions by the resource users that
are favourable both to their socioeconomic situations and
their rangeland environments?
SUSTAINABILITY
– an expanded synthesis

32.
Herders’ involvement in the processes of problem
identification, of research (data collection) and of
solution development are certainly critical elements.
SUSTAINABILITY
– an expanded synthesis
with Community & Culture

33.
Yak Husbandry Areas

34.
Five key messages
 High altitude rangelands are social-ecological systems
 Pastoralism is one of the most sustainable food systems
in the world — particularly in marginal (semi-)arid lands
 Vast areas of rangeland are situated in protected areas
(incl. indigenous & community conserved areas / ICCAs),
which may be considered either opportunity or constraint
 More participatory processes and equitable ‘access and
benefit sharing’ approaches should be advocated
 Adaptive governance of resources is critical, especially
in the context of rapid environmental & climate change

35.
1. Social-Ecological Systems (SES)
The high altitude rangelands are
coupled social-ecological systems
 Humans & nature, coupled
systems, interdependence
 Conservation of rangelands is
premised not only on biodiversity
and ecological issues per se, but
also – fundamentally – on ensuring
that a sustainable pastoralism is
practiced, i.e. multiple human
dimensions are considered

36.
2. Sustainable Food Systems
Pastoralism is one of the most sustainable food systems
in the world — particularly in marginal (semi-)arid lands
 Proven sustainability over decades and centuries
 Flexible and responsive decision-making processes
 Threatened by imposition of socio-political structures
 Benefits from pastoralism include ecosystem services

37.
Four often-overlooked facts
about pastoralism (Davies & Hagelberg 2014)
 Mobility of livestock is essential to maintain the health of
dryland ecosystems

38.
Four often-overlooked facts
about pastoralism
 Intensive livestock systems can degrade the environment

39.
Four often-overlooked facts
about pastoralism
 Sustainable pastoral systems are more efficient, productive
and resilient than more sedentary agricultural systems in
rangelands when all factors and benefits are counted

40.
Four often-overlooked facts
about pastoralism
 Pastoralism is a universal issue, as pastoralists share many
environmental and economic challenges and opportunities

41.
3. Protected Areas in High Asia
Vast areas of rangeland are situated in protected areas
(incl. indigenous & community conserved areas / ICCAs) -
which may be considered either opportunity or constraint

42.
4. Participatory Approaches
More participatory processes and equitable ‘access and
benefit sharing’ approaches should be advocated

43.
4. Participatory Approaches
More participatory processes and equitable ‘access and
benefit sharing’ approaches should be advocated
 Collaborative management – for environment resources,
also for education and health services

44.
4. Participatory Approaches
 Herders cooperatives for local development, search for
environmentally and socio-culturally sound solutions

45.
4. Participatory Approaches
 Sustainable financing with local management (CDRFs)

46.
4. Participatory Approaches
 Giving voice to local communities, marginalized groups

47.
5. Adaptive Governance
Adaptive governance of resources is critical, especially in
the context of rapid environmental & climate change
 Pastoralism – adaptive and responsive over time
 Comprehensive value of rangelands and extensive forms
of pastoralism should be highlighted, awareness raised

48.
Dr J Marc Foggin marc.foggin@ucentralasia.org
foggin@plateauperspectives.org
UNIVERSITY
OF CENTRALASIA