Herding through uncertainties – interfaces between pastoralists & uncertainty

Herding through uncertainties – principles and practices: exploring the interfaces of pastoralists and uncertainty (2019, 51pp), by Michele Nori of the European University Institute, is a literature review for the European Research Council-funded PASTRES (Pastoralism, Uncertainty, Resilience: Global Lessons from the Margins) project. The paper argues that lessons from pastoralists may help people working in other domains to develop more effective responses to uncertainty. The review explores the environmental, market and governance dimensions characterising uncertainty for pastoralists in six settings in Asia, Europe and Africa, including Eastern Africa (focusing mainly on Borana and Maasai pastoralists). It assesses the practices and strategies of pastoral communities in responding to the stresses and shocks generated by the uncertainties around them. The responses of pastoralists in the different settings are very similar. This helps identify some overarching principles and patterns in how pastoralists deal with risk and uncertainty. The paper indicates ways we could learn from pastoralists, as part of a wider conversation about embracing uncertainties in our turbulent world.

Posted on 19 October 2019 in Pastoralism & Natural Resources, Pastoralism, Mobility & Land Tenure