Mobile Pastoralism Protects the Soil (Day 6)

Apr 21, 2019 | In the Field, Photo Stories

Day 6 sees the herd and pastoralists cover 47km as they climb up to an altitude of 1227 meters. The seasonal mobility of animals means they leave the pastures just in time to allow vegetation to recover. Livestock grazing is an effective tool for soil stability, restoration and resilience as it adds manure to the nutrient cycle and restores vegetation cover. Mobile herds allow pastures to rest and for trees to regenerate. Livestock that migrate seasonally leave pastures when grass starts to become scarce and before the animals start to browse on young saplings, allowing for the survival of the latter.

Livestock grazing used as a tool for soil restoration allows vegetation cover to be restored, preventing floods and erosion – and in the process, also improve plant and arthropod diversity. Low grazing pressure has been observed to be a preferable restoration strategy than complete cessation of grazing or afforestation – as restoring an area to it’s former state and diversity is challenging, so preventing abandonment is preferable. Additionally, manure has the capacity to increase soil macroaggregates, compaction resistance and water content capacity, all of which have a direct and positive effect on soil’s resistance to erosion.

Yolda Initiative is a nature conservation NGO based in Turkey and operating at international level. Yolda works for the conservation of biodiversity through research, advocacy, communications and partnerships. Recognizing that humans, with their cultural diversity, are an integral component of ecosystems, traditional cultural practises that benefits biodiversity are a particular focus of Yolda.

Read our stories from partners and practitioners.

Read our stories from partners and practitioners.

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