Newsletter no 46 - Introducing the message of pastoralist communities

Editorial
Introducing the message of pastoralist communities, a voice from the land Illustration by Fernando Garcia Dory, European Shepard Network / WAMIP
More than half of the Earth’s surface is made up of grasslands and rangelands. For thousands of years pastoralist communities have domesticated animals and managed ecosystems in a sustainable way, producing a diversity of cultures and food systems that are adapted and resilient. Associated biodiversity has always co-existed with (...)

In the spotlight 1 -
Digitization, agribusiness and the pastoralist movement
One of the main effects of globalization is the loss of local, regional and national control over economic and political decision-making, a power that has shifted into the hands of globalized actors. At the same time, we are witnessing how global financial capital is becoming increasingly hidden and clandestine. Within this same globalization dynamic, factors affecting food systems, such as land management, price (...)

Box 1 - Shepherds for climate: Is animal husbandry always harmful to the planet?
The annual report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlights the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Livestock, oil and gas drilling, fracking, landfills, etc. are major sources of methane emissions according to the IPCC. But in the public/media/political debate, we must differentiate between the various sources to achieve a more informed and fairer debate on the (...)

Voice from the field 1
Life of pastoralist in India during the COVID19 lockdown
Anu Verma, South Asia Pastoralist Alliance & MARAG, India, WAMIP South Asia
India has 34 million pastoralists managing a livestock population of more than 50 million. Livestock rearing is the second largest occupation in India after agriculture, making a significant contribution of about 8.5 to 9 per cent to the country’s GDP. Its contribution is vital, as pastoralism is the most important means of support (...)