http://www.fao.org/pastoralist-knowledge-hub/pastoralist-networks/regional-networks/north-africa-and-the-near-east/en/ Alessandro Ripani from OIE presented the work of OIE with regards to pastoralism at the of Meeting of North African and West Asian Pastoralists that took place from 14-15 January 2016 in Hammamet, Tunisia. ©FAO: www.fao.org

1. Pastoralism and Animal Health –
Challenges
“Workshop of the Pastoralists Knowledge Hub on building an enabling environment for the sustainable
development of pastoralists in North Africa and the West Asia
Hammamet, 14 and 15 January 2016”
Dr Alessandro Ripani
OIE Sub Regional Represenative for North Africa
1

2. Rationale of pastoralism I
 Two-thirds (2,500-3,400 Mha) of
the agricultural land on planet
Earth is grassland
 Limited rainfall, high altitude or
mountainous conditions.
 High seasonal and inter-annual
variation of pasture requires high
flexibility and mobility
 Various types of mobile livestock
husbandry systems have
developed that are well adapted
to these systems
2
A sheep herd in Kyrgyzstan

3. 3
Pastoral areas in the Sahel and in Central Asia

4. Rationale of pastoralism II
 Not in competition with human
nutrition because humans
cannot digest cellulose
 Land reserves sustain
considerable human and
animal populations which
could not be sustained in any
other way in such areas
 Pastoralist communities are
underserved by and under-
represented in many
governments
4
Dromedary herd in North Mali
Kyrgyz sheep breeders

5. Rationale of pastoralism III
 Risk of delinquency or terrorism
when pastoralist livelihoods are
compromised
 Regularly hit by natural disasters
such as drought, locust
invasions or snow storm
catastrophes (e.g., Zud in
Mongolia)
 Large areas currently
inaccessible because of political
unrest and violence
 Threats from mining operations,
conversion to cropping or land
grabbing
5
Kel Tamachek tent in North Mali
Kyrgyz yurt

6. Social-ecological framework for pastoralism
 Semi-arid ecosystems
• lack of water
• seasonality of rainfall
• hot and cold areas /
highland-lowland contexts
• livestock / wildlife interface
 Natural resources
• highly limited agricultural
production
• almost exclusive use by
extensive pastoral livestock
systems
• Horticulture, e.g. gum
arabicum
• mining, oil
6
 Energy
• lack of forests
• potential for renewable energy
• animal source fuels
 Geography
• long distances
• lowland and highland contexts
 Demography
• low population density
• limited governance
• conflicts (resources)
• Access to education, health, and
Veterinary Services

7. 7
Yak and cattle in Terelj, Mongolia
A ger (traditional felt tent) in Mongolia

8. Pastoral livestock production
 Highly intensive vs. extensive
pastoral livestock production
systems
• extensive pastoralism is
almost the only way for
sustainable use of semi-arid
highland-lowland landscapes
 Type of animals: drought-
tolerant ruminants
 Feed and water: seasonal
availability of fodder
necessitates a mobile lifestyle
8
Preparing for transhumance
in Chad

9. 9
Bactrian camels in the South Gobi,
Mongolia

10. Threats to pastoralism
 Land grabbing
 Fencing
 Detrimental policies on
• Land use
• Sedentarization / mobility
• Lack of social services (health,
education, environment, security)
 Erosion / desertification
 Lack of effective conservation /
protection of genetic resources
 Conflicts / civil unrest / terrorism
 Food insecurity / natural disasters
 Transboundary animal diseases
10
Health service for Kel Tamachek
in North Mali: nearest health
centre is >60 km away

11. 11
Poor water quality in North Mali A starving sheep in North Mali, 2006
An austere Kel Tamachek household
in North Mali
Water must be pulled up from 80 m
deep wells in North Mali

12. Unique potentials of pastoralism
 Ecological potentials:
• Preservation of unique ecosystems
• High rate of carbon sequestration
• No competition with human nutrition as cellulose can
only be used by ruminants
• Animal excreta-derived fuels/fertilizer
• Human presence in remote territories
 Economic potentials:
• Biodiversity / conservation areas
• Ecotourism
• Increased offtake of animal protein, animal products
12

13. 13
Animal source fuel and food conservation
Collecting cattle dung for fuel in Kyrgyzstan
Preserving milk with salt in
Naryn oblast in Kyrgyzstan

14. Future of pastoralism I
 Community engagement, pastoralist associations, self-help
frameworks
 Decentralized environmental management with active
participation of pastoralist stakeholders in policy making
 Maintain mobility in socially and ecologically acceptable forms
 Promote Global partnerships – World Initiative for Sustainable
Pastoralism (WISP)
 Develop veterinary assistance with governments and private
sector involvement
14

15. 15
Transdisciplinary participatory
stakeholder processes
Engaging pastoral communities, local and central
authorities and technical experts
Engaging with pastoral communities, authorities & scientists in N’Djaména, Chad

16. Future of pastoralism II
 Pastoral areas are an indispensable part of future land
use.
 It will be necessary to rethink local governance and
social services, including animal and human health,
education, transport, environmental management and
security.
 Improved social services like human and animal health
services, locally adapted governance, and integrated
adaptive management will pave the way for the
sustainable use of pastoral areas, including, possibly,
moderate intensification and larger export markets.
16

17. 17
Dairy camels waiting to be milked on the outskirts of Gode, South Ethiopia

18. Improving animal health
 Better understanding of pastoralist management practices and
movements to better deliver appropriate services
 Development and application of appropriate technologies –
e.g., cold chain, heat stable vaccines, field diagnostic kits
 Training and use of veterinary para-professionals within
pastoral communities with links to government and/or private
veterinarians
 Provide preventive, therapeutic and nutritional interventions
 Foster supporting policies, laws and regulations to facilitate
use of veterinary para-professionals and a high quality input
supply chain, including vaccination campaign and disease
eradication programmes
18

19. A One Health approach
 Health services are often lacking for pastoralists as well as their
animals
 A one health approach to service delivery has merit
 Offers greater efficiencies in service delivery – e.g., cold chain,
staffing, transport
 Can better address important zoonotic threats, e.g., brucellosis
 Promotes greater participation in vaccination campaigns by
pastoralists and their animals
 Southern Sudan, 1990s. UNICEF Operation Lifeline Sudan
Rinderpest vaccination in cattle; Polio vaccination in children.
 Chad 2000s, Anthrax, pasteurellosis, blackleg and CBPP in cattle;
Diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus in children (Schelling et al., EID,
13(3):373-379, 2007)
19

20. OIE efforts in support of pastoralism –
Current I
 Sensitisation of high level decision-makers on the
importance of pastoralism
20

21. OIE efforts in support of pastoralism –
Current II
 Establishment of an “Alliance of Countries with
Pastoralism Activities by Nomadic Populations”
• First meeting during the 2013 OIE General Session
21

22. OIE efforts in support of pastoralism –
Current III
 Nouakchott Declaration on pastoralism (October 2013)
 Regional Sahel Pastoralism Support Project (PRAPS)
• 6 countries involved
• OIE contributes to Component 1 – Animal Health
o Support to countries through the OIE PVS Pathway
o Regional coordination through Regional Animal Health Centre (RAHC)
22

25. Overview
 Regional Project funded by the World Bank + national counterparts and
beneficiary contributions;
 Six countries: Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad;;
 + a regional institution: The Standing Committee Interstate fighting against
drought in the Sahel;
 Direct consequence of the statements and commitments made by the countries of
the Sahel, regional organizations (ECOWAS, UEMOA, CILSS) and donors during
the Nouakchott Forum in N'Djamena in 2013 to secure pastoralism and
assosiated way of life (nomadism and transhumance) in the interest of people and
Sahelian economies;
 Peculiarity:
- Coordination of activities at the regional level by CILSS but implementation
at national level.

26. Project Development Objective
 Improve access to essential productive assets, services and markets for
pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in selected trans-border areas and
transhumance axes across six Sahel countries, and strengthen country
capacity to respond promptly and effectively to pastoral crises or
emergencies
 Améliorer l’accès à des moyens et services de production essentiels et aux
marchés, pour les pasteurs et agropasteurs, dans des zones transfrontalières
sélectionnées et le long des axes de transhumance dans les six pays
Sahéliens, et améliorer la capacité de ces pays à répondre à temps et de
façon efficace en cas de crises pastorales ou d’urgences

27. Beneficiaries of the Project
Final beneficiaries: Breeders nomadic and
transhumant agro-pastoralists;
Central and decentralized national services in
charge of livestock (including veterinary)
Private service providers (including
veterinarians)
Regional Institutions (CILSS, CRSA);

28. Structure of the project
COMPONENTS
1. improve animal health
2. improve the management of natural resources
3. facilitate access to markets
4. improve the management of pastoral crises
5. project management and institutional support

29. Thank you for your attention !
29
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