Nomadic Pastoralism Adapts Amid Environmental Challenges and Generational Shifts

Despite mounting pressures, the millennia-old practice of moving with livestock for fresh pastures is modernizing and could provide lessons for larger-scale farming.

• Nomadic pastoralism, a way of life practiced by over 50 million people worldwide, is facing increasing pressures from environmental changes, shrinking rangelands, and a new generation seeking less grueling lives.
• Despite these challenges, pastoralism is adapting and modernizing, with groups leveraging new technology to better care for their animals.
• Experts suggest that the adaptability of pastoralism could provide lessons for larger-scale livestock farming to reduce environmental impact.
• In Mongolia, where pastoralism is enshrined in the constitution, families like Agvaantogtokh’s see it as more than a profession, but a cultural identity that connects generations.
• The biggest threat to pastoralism comes from within, as the next generation often chooses other paths, with parents often hoping their children will pursue less challenging lives.

3 Articles

Associated Press Washington Post Washington Post