Plenary Lecture: Sustainable Rangelands, Sustainable Pastoralism in Yak Herding Areas of the Tibetan Plateau & Central Asia. Delivered by Marc Foggin at the "10th International Rangeland Congress: The Future Management of Grazing and Wild Lands in a High-Tech World." Session on Range and Forage of High Latitudes and Altitudes. Conference held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, on 16-22 July 2016.

1. Sustainable Rangelands
Sustainable Pastoralism
in Yak Herding Areas
of the Tibetan Plateau & Central Asia
International Rangeland Congress 2016 (Saskatoon, Canada)
Plenary Session: High Altitude Rangelands of the World
J Marc Foggin, PhD
UNIVERSITY
OF CENTRALASIA

2. Sustainable Rangelands
Sustainable Pastoralism
in the Greater Tibetan Plateau
High Altitude Rangelands of the World…
Sustainable Rangelands
Sustainable Pastoralism
in the Greater Tibetan Plateau

7. High Altitude Rangelands of Asia
Tibetan Plateau | Himalayan Range | Mountains of Central Asia

8. Tibetan wild ass
(kiang)

9. Bar headed geese

10. Grey wolf

11. Lammergeyer

12. Upland buzzard

13. Plateau pika

14. Tibetan fox

15. Snow leopard

16. Wild yak

17. Domestic yak

20. Tibetan Pastoralism

21. Sustainability Rangelands
Pastoralism Tibet & CA

23. Distribution of yak (and yak hybrids)

24. Plan for today…
At a broad level:
 What is our goal?
 How do we get there?
— need for an enhanced
model of Sustainability
And more specifically:
 Five key messages
(lessons learned)

25. Sustainable Rangelands
What is our main goal as scientists?
 To develop ‘perfect models’ of economic behaviour, on
the basis of well-studied rangeland ecosystems? (or)
 To develop (possibly ‘sub-optimal’) integrative models,
and recommend interventions that will be adopted by
herders? – value of grasslands ‘richer’ than economics
Sustainable Pastoralism

26. Sustainable Rangelands
Sustainability = adoption of strategies
 The processes of searching for and developing sustainable
solutions may be as important as final product themselves
 Adoption often requires a ‘sense of ownership’ — enhanced
through local participation, ideally with a co-development
of ideas, also a supportive financing & policy environment
Sustainable Pastoralism

27. How do we get there?

28. In the High Altitude Rangelands…
An integrative model = multiple dimensions
 Environmental (livestock, ecosystem services, biodiversity)
 Economic (utilization of natural resources, human needs)
 Social (development aspirations, incl. cultural aspects)
 Also must consider: local histories, culture, politics…
Pastoralism  Rangelands  Sustainability

29. Different forms of pastoralism
 Nomadism
Seasonal movements, varying from year to year
Often without any village or permanent settlement
 Transhumance
Seasonal migrations, moving to higher pastures in summer
Regular encampments, winter settlements, some farming
… and everything in between
Pastoralism  Rangelands  Sustainability

30. Pastoralist regions
IUCN | Ecosystem Management: World Initiative for Sustainable Pastoralism (WISP)

31. Rangelands
(natural environment)
 Where are rangelands? What forms? What extent?
 What ecosystem goods and services? What value?
Pastoralism  Rangelands  Sustainability

32. Rangelands
& Wetlands
Pastoralism  Rangelands  Sustainability

33. Climate
change
Pastoralism  Rangelands  Sustainability

34. Provisioning
Supporting
Cultural
Regulating

35. Ecosystem Services
& Human Wellbeing

36. Total Economic Value (TEV) ?
Pastoralism  Rangelands  Sustainability

37. SUSTAINABILITY
– an expanded synthesis!
 Four Pillars of Sustainability
 Economy / development
 Environment / ecology
 Social dimensions
 Cultural aspects
Pastoralism  Rangelands  Sustainability

38. How can we achieve decisions by the resource users that
are favourable both to their socioeconomic situations and
their rangeland environments?
SUSTAINABILITY
– an expanded synthesis

39. Herders’ involvement in the processes of problem
identification, of research (data collection) and of
solution development are certainly critical elements.
SUSTAINABILITY
– an expanded synthesis
with Community & Culture

40. Yak Husbandry Areas

41. Five key messages
 High altitude rangelands are social-ecological systems
 Pastoralism is one of the most sustainable food systems
in the world — particularly in marginal (semi-)arid lands
 Vast areas of rangeland are situated in protected areas
(incl. indigenous & community conserved areas / ICCAs),
which may be considered either opportunity or constraint
 More participatory processes and equitable ‘access and
benefit sharing’ approaches should be advocated
 Adaptive governance of resources is critical, especially
in the context of rapid environmental & climate change

42. 1. Social-Ecological Systems (SES)
The high altitude rangelands are
coupled social-ecological systems
 Humans & nature, coupled
systems, interdependence
 Conservation of rangelands is
premised not only on biodiversity
and ecological issues per se, but
also – fundamentally – on ensuring
that a sustainable pastoralism is
practiced, i.e. multiple human
dimensions are considered

43. 2. Sustainable Food Systems
Pastoralism is one of the most sustainable food systems
in the world — particularly in marginal (semi-)arid lands
 Proven sustainability over decades and centuries
 Flexible and responsive decision-making processes
 Threatened by imposition of socio-political structures
 Benefits from pastoralism include ecosystem services

44. Four often-overlooked facts
about pastoralism (Davies & Hagelberg 2014)
 Mobility of livestock is essential to maintain the health of
dryland ecosystems

45. Four often-overlooked facts
about pastoralism
 Intensive livestock systems can degrade the environment

46. Four often-overlooked facts
about pastoralism
 Sustainable pastoral systems are more efficient, productive
and resilient than more sedentary agricultural systems in
rangelands when all factors and benefits are counted

47. Four often-overlooked facts
about pastoralism
 Pastoralism is a universal issue, as pastoralists share many
environmental and economic challenges and opportunities

48. 3. Protected Areas in High Asia
Vast areas of rangeland are situated in protected areas
(incl. indigenous & community conserved areas / ICCAs) -
which may be considered either opportunity or constraint

50. 4. Participatory Approaches
More participatory processes and equitable ‘access and
benefit sharing’ approaches should be advocated

51. 4. Participatory Approaches
More participatory processes and equitable ‘access and
benefit sharing’ approaches should be advocated
 Collaborative management – for environment resources,
also for education and health services

52. 4. Participatory Approaches
 Herders cooperatives for local development, search for
environmentally and socio-culturally sound solutions

53. 4. Participatory Approaches
 Sustainable financing with local management (CDRFs)

54. 4. Participatory Approaches
 Giving voice to local communities, marginalized groups

55. 5. Adaptive Governance
Adaptive governance of resources is critical, especially in
the context of rapid environmental & climate change
 Pastoralism – adaptive and responsive over time
 Comprehensive value of rangelands and extensive forms
of pastoralism should be highlighted, awareness raised

56. Dr J Marc Foggin marc.foggin@ucentralasia.org
foggin@plateauperspectives.org
UNIVERSITY
OF CENTRALASIA