Putting pastoralism back at the heart of public policy

Just out 23 February 2026
Food security, climate, biodiversity, social cohesion, and so on. Ensuring sustainable support for agropastoral systems in the countries of the Global South generates multiple benefits. These are set out in a joint position paper produced by AFD, CIRAD, Acting for Life, AVSF, GRET, Inter Réseaux and IRAM.
Ousmane is an agropastoralist in Senegal’s groundnut basin. His production system combines crops and livestock, and is based on the seasonal mobility of herds to make optimal use of the variability of resources © Imagéo-Parry/Francin

Ousmane is an agropastoralist in Senegal’s groundnut basin. His production system combines crops and livestock, and is based on the seasonal mobility of herds to make optimal use of the variability of resources © Imagéo-Parry/Francin

couv note de position patoralisme

Long regarded as marginal, pastoralism is in fact practised by more than 500 million people in around 100 different countries. This form of transhumant livestock farming is found in environments that are poorly suited to crop cultivation, including steppes, savannas, high-altitude grasslands, forests and tundra. Natural rangelands cover a total of 54% of the world’s land surface, at all latitudes.

In a joint position paper, CIRAD, AFD, Acting for Life, AVSF, GRET, Inter Réseaux and IRAM underscore their firm belief that mobile livestock farming is a key driver of sustainable development in more than 100 countries.

An underestimated economic and social pillar

Chiffres sahel note pastoralisme Cirad

 

Pastoralism supplies national and regional markets, creates jobs and structures entire territories. In the Sahel, for example, mobile livestock farming provides most of the red meat and a large proportion of the milk consumed.

However, these contributions remain largely unrecognised in official statistics and public policy decisions. The result is a lack of infrastructure, inadequate veterinary services, insecure access to water, education and healthcare for pastoral households, and increasing land tenure insecurity.

A response to climate and ecological challenges

Les paturages stockent 30% des stocks mondiaux de carbone du sol

Contrary to popular belief, pastoral systems do not necessarily cause environmental degradation. Recent scientific studies show that in the Sahel, carbon storage in soils and vegetation can offset herd emissions. On a global scale, grasslands and rangelands represent some of the largest carbon sinks.

Seasonal mobility reduces pressure on resources, encourages pasture regeneration, and maintains a habitat mosaic conducive to biodiversity. The authors thus advocate supporting – rather than restricting – these movements, which are essential to ecosystem balance.

Seven action priorities

The paper outlines an operational roadmap structured around seven key areas:

  • Highlighting the economic and ecological benefits of pastoralism
  • Strengthening the complementarities between crop and livestock systems
  • Securing mobility and land-use rights
  • Modernising services (animal health, mobile education, climate information)
  • Preventing conflicts through local mediation and shared governance
  • Fully integrating pastoralism into national and regional policies
  • Investing in action-research and innovation

Changing perspective

Recognising pastoralism as an investment in the future rather than a legacy of the past is now a strategic imperative. Putting rangelands and pastoralists at the heart of public policy is a key condition for building resilient food systems, protecting ecosystems and strengthening the cohesion of rural territories.

See also