Cattle-rangeland management practices and perceptions of pastoralists towards rangeland degradation in the Borana zone of southern Ethiopia

Rangelands provide several valuable ecological services and provide for the livelihoods of local herders on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). However, rangelands are being degraded due to overgrazing, policy changes and climate change. In this context, a survey was conducted in Zhuaxixiulong township of Gansu Province, China to examine the rangeland management systems and identify problems herders are facing in terms of livestock production and livelihoods using a Participatory Rural Appraisal approach. The results indicated that local herders perceived recent trends in rangeland degradation, climatic change, and political changes, and had developed management practices to adapt to these changes, such as adjusting transhumance patterns, cooperating with local institutions and adopting more collective actions in production practices. This study suggests that, to promote a sustainable rangeland management system in the QTP, policy-makers should recognise indigenous knowledge systems of grazing practices and rangeland management, as well as the need for more advanced technical methods. More attention should be paid to recent changes in climate, social transformations and economic changes to enhance the viability of such a pastoral society. To ensure the sustainability of the social–ecological system, there is a need to strengthen public participation and cooperation with all types of institutions to formulate appropriate policies and improve public services.

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Rapid declines in habitat quality and population size of the Liben (Sidamo) Lark Heteromirafra sidamoensis necessitate immediate conservation action

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270910000018 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

PAUL F. DONALD ◽

GRAEME M. BUCHANAN ◽

NIGEL J. COLLAR ◽

YILMA DELLELEGN ABEBE ◽

MERID N. GABREMICHAEL ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Predictive Modelling ◽

Rangeland Management ◽

Grass Species ◽

Southern Ethiopia ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Grass Cover ◽

Conservation Action ◽

Significant Deterioration ◽

North East

SummaryThe Critically Endangered Liben Lark (formerly Sidamo Lark) is known only from the Liben Plain of southern Ethiopia, where rapid grassland deterioration is driving the species towards extinction. Fieldwork on the Liben Plain in May 2009 to assess changes in habitat and population since June 2007 recorded a significant deterioration in habitat and decline in numbers. In both 2007 and 2009, birds were associated with areas with greater than average grass cover, and in 2007 with areas of higher grass. However, between 2007 and 2009 there was a significant decline in grass cover and height, a 40% decline in number of birds recorded along repeated transects, and a contraction of 38% in the occupied area of the Liben Plain. Moreover, the cover of bare ground increased more in areas where the species was recorded in 2007 than at random points, suggesting a more rapid degradation of the best sites. There was also a loss to arable agriculture of 8% of the grassland present in 2007. Invading fennel plants increased in number and area on the plain but did not appear to influence the distribution of the lark. An analysis of NDVI showed that grassland deterioration could not be explained by drought, and the most likely explanation is that grassland quality is suffering from overgrazing. Predictive modelling suggests that, apart from a smaller and politically insecure area some 500 km to the north-east near Somalia, there is no suitable habitat for this species elsewhere in the Horn of Africa. As a matter of extreme urgency, cattle exclosures need to be established on the Liben Plain to allow grassland regeneration. This may require the ploughing of land to reduce soil compaction and re-sowing with local grass species. In the longer term, further degradation of the plain should be prevented by, for example, clearing encroaching scrub to increase grassland area and reduce grazing pressure, and by developing sustainable rangeland management practices. These actions have the full and active support of local pastoralists.

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Performance Evaluation of Grain Yield and Yield Related Traits in Common bean Genotypes at Yabello and Abaya, Southern Ethiopia

Journal of Aridland Agriculture ◽

10.25081/jaa.2017.v3.3365 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 28-34

Author(s):

Ejigu Ejara, Wassu Mohammed, Berhanu Amsalu ◽

Zinash Misgana, Mulatu Gabisa, Ganane Tasama

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Common Bean ◽

Agronomic Traits ◽

Southern Ethiopia ◽

Design Data ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

Lattice Design ◽

Food And Nutrition ◽

Borana Zone ◽

Home Consumption

Common bean is among the major crops grown in southern Ethiopia including Borana zone where the majority of the farmers are Agro-pastoralist and produce the crop mainly for home consumption. The area has potential to the production of common bean for food and nutrition security as well as export commodity. However, scarcity of varieties that fit to the environment is one of the major constraints of production. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to evaluate 36 common bean genotypes including seven released varieties to evaluate performance of genotypes for yield and agronomic traits. The field experiment was conducted in 2015 at two locations (Abaya and Yabello) and genotypes were planted in triple lattice design. Data were collected on yield and important agronomic traits. Analysis of variance computed for individual locations and combined analysis over locations revealed significant variations among genotypes for all traits. Moreover, 16.67% of the genotypes had mean grain yield greater than the best performing released variety across locations and the genotypes showed a grain yield as high as 3.25 tons ha-1. Based on results of this study it is recommended to test the high yielding and early maturing genotypes at many locations to develop preferred varieties across many locations.

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Assessment of Rangeland Degradation in New Mexico Using Time Series Segmentation and Residual Trend Analysis (TSS-RESTREND)

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13091618 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 1618

Author(s):

Melakeneh G. Gedefaw ◽

Hatim M. E. Geli ◽

Temesgen Alemayehu Abera

Keyword(s):

Time Series ◽

New Mexico ◽

Trend Analysis ◽

Vegetation Index ◽

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽

Rangeland Management ◽

Environmental Benefits ◽

Drought Severity ◽

Assessment Framework ◽

Rangeland Degradation

Rangelands provide significant socioeconomic and environmental benefits to humans. However, climate variability and anthropogenic drivers can negatively impact rangeland productivity. The main goal of this study was to investigate structural and productivity changes in rangeland ecosystems in New Mexico (NM), in the southwestern United States of America during the 1984–2015 period. This goal was achieved by applying the time series segmented residual trend analysis (TSS-RESTREND) method, using datasets of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from the Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies and precipitation from Parameter elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM), and developing an assessment framework. The results indicated that about 17.6% and 12.8% of NM experienced a decrease and an increase in productivity, respectively. More than half of the state (55.6%) had insignificant change productivity, 10.8% was classified as indeterminant, and 3.2% was considered as agriculture. A decrease in productivity was observed in 2.2%, 4.5%, and 1.7% of NM’s grassland, shrubland, and ever green forest land cover classes, respectively. Significant decrease in productivity was observed in the northeastern and southeastern quadrants of NM while significant increase was observed in northwestern, southwestern, and a small portion of the southeastern quadrants. The timing of detected breakpoints coincided with some of NM’s drought events as indicated by the self-calibrated Palmar Drought Severity Index as their number increased since 2000s following a similar increase in drought severity. Some breakpoints were concurrent with some fire events. The combination of these two types of disturbances can partly explain the emergence of breakpoints with degradation in productivity. Using the breakpoint assessment framework developed in this study, the observed degradation based on the TSS-RESTREND showed only 55% agreement with the Rangeland Productivity Monitoring Service (RPMS) data. There was an agreement between the TSS-RESTREND and RPMS on the occurrence of significant degradation in productivity over the grasslands and shrublands within the Arizona/NM Tablelands and in the Chihuahua Desert ecoregions, respectively. This assessment of NM’s vegetation productivity is critical to support the decision-making process for rangeland management; address challenges related to the sustainability of forage supply and livestock production; conserve the biodiversity of rangelands ecosystems; and increase their resilience. Future analysis should consider the effects of rising temperatures and drought on rangeland degradation and productivity.

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Towards evenly distributed grazing patterns: including social context in sheep management strategies

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.2152 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. e2152 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Agustina di Virgilio ◽

Juan Manuel Morales

Keyword(s):

Social Context ◽

Management Practices ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Domestic Sheep ◽

Conservation Of Resources ◽

Landscape Conservation ◽

Sheep Grazing ◽

Rangeland Degradation ◽

Natural Grasslands

Background.A large proportion of natural grasslands around the world is exposed to overgrazing resulting in land degradation and biodiversity loss. Although there is an increasing effort in the promotion of sustainable livestock management, rangeland degradation still occurs because animals’ foraging behaviour is highly selective at different spatial scales. The assessment of the ecological mechanisms modulating the spatial distribution of grazing and how to control it has critical implications for long term conservation of resources and the sustainability of livestock production. Considering the relevance of social interactions on animals’ space use patterns, our aim was to explore the potential effects of including animals’ social context into management strategies using domestic sheep grazing in rangelands as case study.Methods.We used GPS data from 19 Merino sheep (approximately 10% of the flock) grazing on three different paddocks (with sizes from 80 to 1000 Ha) during a year, to estimate resource selection functions of sheep grazing in flocks of different levels of heterogeneity. We assessed the effects of sheep class (i.e., ewes, wethers, and hoggets), age, body condition and time since release on habitat selection patterns.Results.We found that social rank was reflected on sheep habitat use, where dominant individuals (i.e., reproductive females) used more intensively the most preferred areas and low-ranked (i.e., yearlings) used less preferred areas. Our results showed that when sheep grazed on more heterogeneous flocks, grazing patterns were more evenly distributed at all the paddocks considered in this study. On the other hand, when high-ranked individuals were removed from the flock, low-ranked sheep shifted their selection patterns by increasing the use of the most preferred areas and strongly avoided to use less preferred sites (i.e., a highly selective grazing behaviour).Discussion.Although homogenization and segregation of flocks by classes are common practices to increase flock productivity, we are proposing an alternative that employs behavioural interactions in heterogeneous flocks to generate more evenly distributed grazing patterns. This practice can be combined with other practices such as rotational grazing and guardian dogs (to decrease mortality levels that may be generated by sheep grazing on more risky habitats). This does not imply any modifications of livestock stocking rates and densities or any additional investments for labour and materials. Considering livestock behaviour is critical for the design of sustainable management practices that balance landscape conservation and livestock productivity.

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Soil Physic-chemical Properties in Termite Mounds and Adjacent Control Soil in Miyo and Yabello Districts of Borana Zone, Southern Ethiopia

American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry ◽

10.11648/j.ajaf.20160404.11 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 69 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Abiyot Lelisa Deke

Keyword(s):

Chemical Properties ◽

Southern Ethiopia ◽

Control Soil ◽

Termite Mounds ◽

Borana Zone

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Composition, prevalence and abundance of Ixodid cattle ticks at Ethio-Kenyan Border, Dillo district of Borana Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health ◽

10.5897/jvmah2017.0589 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 204-212

Author(s):

Dabasa Golo ◽

Zewdei Wubishet ◽

Shanko Tadelle ◽

Jilo Kula ◽

Gurmesa Gete ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Southern Ethiopia ◽

Cattle Ticks ◽

Borana Zone

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Exploring appropriate livelihood alternatives for sustainable rangeland management

The Rangeland Journal ◽

10.1071/rj15027 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 37 (4) ◽

pp. 345 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Hojatollah Khedri Gharibvand ◽

Hossein Azadi ◽

Frank Witlox

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Policy Making ◽

Sustainable Livelihoods ◽

Rangeland Management ◽

Future Directions ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Rangeland Degradation ◽

Mitigation And Adaptation ◽

Migration Strategies ◽

And Migration

Rangeland degradation and vulnerability of livelihoods are two major challenges facing pastoralists, rangeland managers and policy-makers in arid and semi-arid areas. There is a need to make holistic informed decisions in order to protect rangelands and sustain livelihoods. Through a comprehensive literature review on rangeland management policies and livelihood strategies of ‘rangeland users’, it is shown how such policies have affected sustainable rangeland management, how strategies to sustain livelihoods have been incomplete and how there has been a lack of a multi-disciplinary approach in acknowledging them. Accordingly, a set of appropriate livelihood alternatives is introduced and, thenceforth, a framework for their evaluation is developed. Supportive strategies for enhancing resilience are discussed as a research and policy-making gap. In this study, the keys to achieve sustainable livelihoods are acknowledged as ‘livelihoods’ resilience’, where livelihoods need to be supported by access to capital, means of coping with the contexts of vulnerability as well as by enhancing policies, institutions and processes. The paper proposes a set of ‘livestock-based livelihoods’ regarding ‘traditional pastoralism’ as well as ‘their mitigation and adaptation’. Moreover, their transformation to ‘commercial pastoralism’, ‘resource-based livelihoods’, ‘alternative livelihoods’ and ‘migration’ strategies is recognised to be employed by rangeland users as useful alternatives in different regions and under future changing conditions including climate change. These strategies embrace thinking on resilience and are supported by strategies that address social and ecological consequences of climate change consisting of mitigation, adaptation and transformation. It is argued that sustainable livelihoods and sustainable rangeland management will be achieved if they are supported by policies that build and facilitate a set of appropriate livelihood alternatives and keep them in a sustainable state rather than being limited to supporting ‘vulnerable livelihoods’. Finally, future directions for analysing and policy-making in selecting the best alternative to achieve sustainable livelihoods are indicated.

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