Current Projects

Projecting pastoralists as role models of managing livestock within Planetary Boundaries

The United Nations have declared 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP). This presents a unique opportunity to change the narrative about pastoralism disseminate information about the economic and ecological role of the world’s estimated 600 million people, who practice it. There is thus an urgent need for promoting a new, more holistic paradigm of livestock development within planetary boundaries. This is basically what pastoralists do: use mobile livestock to harvest naturally available biomass rather than amass livestock and feed them with crops grown far away and with massive use of fossil fuels. One of the specific objectives of this 2-year project, supported by Misereor, is that experts from international organizations as well as decision makers understand pastoralism as a livestock system within planetary boundaries and increase their support for pastoralists. Furthermore, the project aims to reach a broad audience, with information about the global distribution of pastoralists, their significance, and the threats they experience with respect to livelihood and production systems.

Accounting for pastoralists in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is the most recent country to be covered in LPP’s Accounting for Pastoralists series. The rangelands and deserts that cover most of the country support large numbers of nomadic, transhumant and sedentary pastoralists, who make up perhaps 10% of the country's population. The nomadic and transhumant pastoralists are known as "Kuchi". They own more than 70% of the country’s livestock and produce most of the live animals and meat consumed there. They migrate to the central highlands in the summer, returning to the warmer lowlands in the winter. Khurshid Muhammad describes the management systems they use, their contributions to the national economy and society, and the challenges they face. Click here for the brief.

With camelids into a sustainable future

Pastoral camelid husbandry is rapidly changing worldwide. Whether in the drylands of Asia and Africa (the “Old World”) or in the Andean highlands (the “New World”), camel herders face increasing challenges. This dossier by the League for Pastoral Peoples, the German Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture and Misereor offers a differentiated picture of camelid pastoralists’ realities. An introduction to the importance of pastoralism worldwide is followed by an analysis of how camelid husbandry has evolved over recent decades. In the second part, you can learn about pastoral camelid keepers in the Andean highlands, Eastern Africa and Mongolia. The third part of the dossier looks at the role of research on camelid pastoralism and discusses camelid policies that are needed for a resilient future. The dossier is available in English and German.

Accounting for pastoralists in Pakistan

The latest in LPP's Accounting for Pastoralists series of briefs focuses on Pakistan. Khurshid Muhammad describes the various forms of pastoralism that dominate the deserts and mountains that cover much of this country. As in many other countries, reliable data on pastoralism is scarce, but it is possible to tease information out of the official statistics and academic studies to show the importance of this for of livestock management for the livelihoods of millions of people as well as for the national economy. Clcik here for the brief.