Flexible Livestock Grazing for Soil and Ecosystem Restoration

Louhaichi, M., Gouhis, F., Kailene, J., Gamoun, M. 2024. Flexible Livestock Grazing for Soil and Ecosystem Restoration: IPSR Innovation Profile. First edition, September 2024. Montpellier: CGIAR System Organization.

Restoring rangelands: the art of flexible livestock grazing to restore soil health, ecosystem function and ecosystem services.

Nomadic livestock systems have evolved over millennia in response to seasonal rainfall patterns. In Tunisia, where approximately one-third of the land is semi-arid, arid, or desert, degradation poses a significant challenge. The Gdel resting technique, a low-cost intervention, has been part of the national strategy for rangeland improvement since 1990, and is implemented by developing agencies for rangeland improvement. The pastoralists whose animals would normally graze in these areas are supported through the provision of feed supplements for 3 consecutive years. However, the implementation had its shortfalls. In 2018, unexpectedly high rainfall led to abundant vegetation growth, but the rigid implementation of the resting technique hindered pastoralists from capitalizing on the surplus biomass. In response, ICARDA developed flexible or opportunistic grazing criteria and trained partners to adapt to climate variability. This innovative approach allows pastoralists to optimize resource utilization during favorable years and addressing the shortcomings of previous implementations.