These areas, which settled people call « margins, » are in reality the realm of nomadic herders. No tractors, no oil. Just herds that move with the rains, enriching the soil with their manure and preserving biodiversity..
Did you know that half of the Earth’s landmass has never seen a plow, a pesticide, or synthetic fertilizers? That two-thirds of the world’s agricultural land escapes industrial farming? These areas, which settled populations call « margins, » are actually the domain of nomadic herders. Here, there are no tractors, no oil. Just herds that move with the rains, enriching the soil with their manure and preserving biodiversity. While the industrialized world collapsed during the Covid-19 crisis, they continued to produce. So, here’s the uncomfortable truth: the true experts of the land may not be who we think. This is why nomadic pastoralists are our best allies in the fight against climate change.
Pastoral rangelands cover approximately half of the Earth’s land surface and two-thirds of its agricultural land. These vast expanses are unsuitable for conventional agriculture, but in pastoral systems, they can be used agroecologically without any reliance on fossil fuels. The result is the production of high-quality food that preserves floral and faunal biodiversity. Tillage is eliminated, and synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are not used. Instead, animal manure is applied directly to the fields, maintaining natural and sustainable fertility.
Contrary to popular belief, pastoralism is not synonymous with systematic overgrazing. Nor is it simply a matter of irreconcilable conflicts with wildlife. On the contrary, numerous concrete examples demonstrate that nomadic and semi-nomadic herding has successfully contributed to nature conservation. Entire ecosystems have been protected thanks to the intelligent mobility of livestock.
Specialists in variability facing a static world
The secret of nomadic pastoralists can be summed up in three words: extreme flexibility. Capable of adjusting their movements to the annual fluctuations in rainfall, they exploit the available biomass without ever depleting it. Pastoral livestock yields are not constant. They depend on rainfall, the seasons, and the vagaries of the weather. But precisely because of this, these herders do not seek to endlessly increase their production. They make optimal use of what nature offers them, without harming it. This is why they are nicknamed the specialists of harnessing variability.
Many experts consider them particularly well-equipped to adapt to climate change. Where sedentary agriculture collapses in the face of an unexpected drought, the nomadic herder moves his flock. Where industrialized livestock farming suffers massive losses, the pastoral system survives.
A lesson in resilience from the South
Nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralism is of crucial economic importance in many of Africa’s least developed countries. During the COVID-19 crisis, these pastoral systems proved more resilient than industrial and transnational value chains. There were no disruptions to inputs, no blocked transport, and no factory shutdowns. Nomads continued to produce locally, feed their communities, and circulate goods along their ancestral routes. Although pastoralism is often associated with land-use conflicts and overgrazing, the FAO itself emphasizes its importance as a form of food production in harmony with nature. The UN organization highlights its potential for innovation, which is too often overlooked by public policy.
Major challenges and participatory solutions
Despite these advantages, major challenges remain. Violent conflicts between pastoralists and settled farmers over access to water and land resources are increasing throughout Africa. These tensions, sometimes deadly, threaten social cohesion and food security. The solution will not come from top-down approaches. It will come from participatory processes involving all stakeholders: strengthened dialogue, reciprocal trade relations, and formal recognition of pastoral land rights. Because if pastoral lands are not officially recognized, pastoralists will become strangers in their own land.
In the context of accelerated climate change, nomadic pastoralists may be our best asset for sustainable production without destroying the planet. Their future is also the health of our lands. It is time to stop seeing them as a problem and recognize them for what they are: silent guardians of biodiversity and food resilience.
ESN
