Sustainable Pastoralism
Imagine sipping on a cup of traditional Inner Mongolian tea, its warmth seeping into your soul as you gaze out at the endless expanse of lush grasslands. The scene is like a painting, where horses gallop carelessly, and cows and sheep graze contentedly under the vast blue sky. This picturesque landscape of Hulun Buir in Inner Mongolia, China, is a testament to the beauty and ecological richness of well-managed grasslands. It is here that I embarked on a journey to understand the intricate balance between nature and human activity, seeking lessons that could be applied to the grasslands and pastoral systems of my home country, Nigeria.
Nigeria has a total area of 923,786 square km, of which grasslands are the predominant landscape, encompassing roughly 341,800 square km, or 37 percent of the country’s landmass. These expansive grasslands are crucial for Nigeria’s ecological and economic health, sustaining a variety of plant and animal species and providing vital resources for pastoralist communities. Despite their importance, Nigeria’s grasslands face significant challenges that demand innovative and sustainable solutions.
Hulun Buir’s transformation into a model for sustainable grazing is the result of the successful implementation of the Science and Technology Backyards (STB) model. This model represents a collaborative effort between universities (research, education, service), the government (support, policy), and the local community (farmers, cooperatives). This tripartite partnership bridges the gap between knowledge and action, involving science-based recommendations, refining management tools, feedback, and continuous innovation.
Sustainable grazing
One of the most notable practices is rotational grazing, which regulates grazing intensity and cycles according to the growth rates and nutrient storage capacities of the grasslands. This approach prevents overgrazing, promotes the regeneration of vegetation, and maintains the health of the ecosystem. The collaboration ensures that scientific insights are effectively translated into practical, on-the-ground actions that sustain the grasslands and improve the livelihoods of pastoral communities.
In Nigeria, pastoralism is a significant source of livelihood, particularly in the southwestern regions. However, the grasslands here face severe challenges due to overgrazing, farmer-herder clashes, and improper management practices. The overexploitation of grasslands leads to degradation, loss of biodiversity, and conflicts over land use. The situation in southwestern Nigeria is particularly dire, with frequent violent clashes between farmers and herders resulting in loss of life and property, further exacerbating the economic instability in the region.
The challenges faced by Nigerian grasslands bear similarities to those addressed successfully in Hulun Buir. Both regions depend heavily on pastoralism for their livelihood, and both have experienced issues related to overgrazing and land degradation. Therefore, the effective management strategies employed in Hulun Buir provide a blueprint that Nigeria can adapt to its unique context.
One of the standout practices from Hulun Buir is rotational grazing. This technique involves dividing the grassland into several paddocks and rotating their grazing, allowing each paddock time to recover before being grazed again. Implementing rotational grazing in Nigeria can prevent overgrazing, enhance vegetation recovery, and improve the overall health of the grasslands.
Opportunities for collaboration
Given the success of Hulun Buir’s sustainable grassland management, there is a significant opportunity for collaboration between China and Nigeria. By sharing technology, expertise, and best practices, Nigeria can benefit from China’s advancements in grassland management. This partnership could involve training programmes, exchange of scientific knowledge, and joint research initiatives, further enhancing the capacity of Nigerian institutions and communities to manage their grasslands sustainably.
Adopting these sustainable practices will not only resolve the farmer-herder clashes but also boost the socio-economic status of agriculture-related activities. Herder–farmer conflicts are a series of disputes over arable land resources across Nigeria between herders and farmers. The violent conflicts have caused loss of lives and property. The conflict has escalated in recent years. To mitigate the conflicts, a multifaceted approach is required. Nigeria has designated grazing reserves that remain underutilised. By effectively utilising these reserves and ensuring their equitable distribution among herders based on herd and family size, grazing pressure on communal lands can be reduced.
Enhanced grassland management will lead to increased agricultural productivity, attract tourism, and provide a stable source of income for pastoral communities. The ripple effects of these improvements will be far-reaching, contributing to national food security and economic stability. In addition, creating research bases and stations dedicated to studying and improving grassland and pastoral management will provide data-driven insights and innovative solutions tailored to the Nigerian context.
The lessons learnt from my trip to Hulun Buir highlight the potential for transforming Nigeria’s grassland ecosystems through sustainable pastoralism practices. By adopting rotational grazing, utilising grazing reserves effectively, and establishing robust documentation and research systems, Nigeria can address the challenges of overgrazing and farmer-herder conflicts. Embracing these strategies, along with fostering collaboration with China, will not only preserve the ecological integrity of the grasslands but also enhance agricultural productivity and socio-economic development, paving the way for a peaceful and prosperous future for all stakeholders involved.
The author is a Ph.D. student of China Agricultural University.
