Pastoralism is a way of life for many communities around the world. They face numerous challenges in the face of climate change and resource access. Livestock mobility plays a fundamental role in pastoralism as it allows communities to adapt to changing environmental conditions, find suitable pastures, and utilize available resources efficiently. A recent webinar held as part of the Climate Change Study Circle webinars in collaboration with the FAO Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) and the FAO Pastoralist Knowledge Hub (PKH) shed light on the crucial role of pastoral mobility in supporting livelihoods and maintaining ecosystem services and why securing and legislating for pastoral mobility is important.  

Pastoral mobility was the central theme, highlighting its significance in sustaining livelihoods and fostering resilient ecosystems. Mobility ensures food and livelihood security by allowing pastoralists to access resources and adapt to changing climatic conditions. Natasha Maru from International Land Coalition (ILC) talked about the critical role of mobility in optimizing market opportunities, maintaining reproductive capital, and enhancing adaptation to multiple stresses. She spoke about how the family of Harjan Bhai, a pastoralist from western India, have been offered the adaptive capacity necessary to overcome variable and uncertain events through mobility. They moved to different areas and pastures following the changed circumstances. Supported by shared resource use, reciprocal arrangements, flexible institutions and availability of post-harvest resources, pastoralists alter their movement pattern to synchronize with their changed reality.

Pablo Manzano from the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) provided a fascinating aspect in the webinar on the historical significance of herbivores and their impact on ecosystems. He showcased scientific evidence and articles, revealing how herbivores played a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and key ecosystem processes. However, as human populations expanded, many herbivores faced extinction. The emergence of pastoralism, with its mobile livestock systems, provided a substitute for the lost herbivores. Scientific evidence showcased the importance of pastoral mobility in maintaining the functionality and ecological balance of the rangelands. By allowing domestic herbivores to move freely across landscapes, pastoral mobility ensures the sustainable utilization of resources and the preservation of fragile ecosystems. He also presented a study on how mobile systems are more productive and provided more food with a lesser carbon footprint. Yet, mobility is always often misunderstood.

One key challenge facing pastoral mobility is the lack of legal recognition. The webinar stressed the need for governments to acknowledge the value of pastoralism and support its practices through policy frameworks and legislation. By providing legal recognition, governments can enable pastoralists to exercise their rights, access resources, and participate in decision-making. Strengthening legal frameworks will ensure the sustainability of pastoral systems, mitigate land degradation, and contribute significantly to national economies. Studies have indicated that pastoralism plays a crucial role in supporting livelihoods and accounts for a substantial portion of GDP. Additionally, legislation is crucial in translating policies into enforceable mechanisms that protect pastoralist rights, define responsibilities, and foster accountability. By aligning governance and legislation with the needs of pastoralists, policymakers can create an enabling environment for sustainable pastoral mobility.

While migration is recognized as a reality of life, pastoral mobility often clashes with the state's notion of fixed addresses and control. Bridging this gap requires integrating traditional values and mechanisms into formal governance systems. By acknowledging the wisdom accumulated over millennia, policymakers can create policies that accommodate pastoral mobility, fostering resilience and sustainability. The webinar highlighted the need for international collaboration and political will to advance pastoral mobility and the crucial role of pastoral organizations and partnerships in driving positive change. Building political will entails demonstrating the economic contributions of pastoral systems and dispelling misconceptions. Global platforms such as the upcoming International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists can facilitate knowledge exchange, share good practices, and mobilize support for pastoral communities. By leveraging these global processes, policymakers can promote sustainable pastoral mobility and ensure its rightful place in the broader development agenda.

A closing remark by one of the speakers, Michael Odhiambo, an independent consultant and lawyer on natural resource management, mentioned that "however good the policy, however good the law, it takes more than those documents to get benefits for pastoralists, so we must build the capacity within pastoralists, to be able to leverage decision-making processes to ensure that good policies and good legislation translate into good programmes and actions on the ground for their benefits." This remark emphasizes the significance of inclusive action-oriented policies and legislation in support of pastoral mobility. Recognizing the benefits of pastoral mobility and its alignment with sustainable development goals is the first step.