Reviews the characteristics of African pastoralism. Describes the major technical land institutional interventions along with the reasons why they have proved so difficult.

Reviews most recent applications of methodologies for resource surveys appropriate to pastoral & agro-pastoral regions in Africa, with particular reference to remote sensing methodologies, viz. satellite imagery, aerial photography, side-looking radar (SLR), spectral radiance and low-altitutde aerial survey. Discusses the integration of remote sensing techniques with ground truth within the context of rapid appraisal methods and early warning procedures within a livestock systems research approach.

ILRI’s Andrew Mude interviewed live on DSTV television on August 24, 2011 by a South African journalist on the drought in the Horn, what can be done to enhance pastoral resilience in this region in the face of recurring droughts, such as his project that is insuring pastoral livestock against drought for the first time.

Pastoralism is the dominant livelihood activity in the North Eastern Province (NEP) of Kenya. It is supplemented only by a limited amount of agriculture along the rivers. The province faces various developmental challenges including chronic poverty and food insecurity, low human capital and poor health standards, high vulnerability to climate change, poor infrastructure, insecurity and low crop and livestock productivity.

The objectives of this study were to: (a) estimate milk and beef yields obtained from cows grazing pastures in different stages of degradation; (b) estimate income losses as a result of the degradation process; (c) estimate the proportion of pasture areas found in each stage of degradation within the six administrative regions of Honduras; and (d) identify different strategies and costs to recuperate degraded pastures. Data came from two surveys executed during a workshop carried out in March 2004.

Katharine Downie, Coordinator for the Technical Consortium for Building Resilience in the Horn of Africa, ILRI, at the side event, “Measuring and Evaluating Resilience in Drylands of East Africa”. IFPRI 2020 conference on Building Resilience for Food and Nutrition Security, May 15-17, 2014, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. More information at http://www.2020resilience.ifpri.info

Traditionally sung by mothers, this song describes the importacne of cattle to a pastoralist community living in a semi-desert area.