Dynamics and Resilience of Rangelands and Pastoral Peoples Around the Globe

TLDR

Rangelands, covering more of Earth's land surface than any other type, are characterized by harsh, variable climates, sparse populations, remote markets, significant livestock production, and predominantly common management, yet they increasingly confront political, economic, and climatic stresses that threaten their resilience. This review examines recent advances in understanding rangeland social‑ecological systems, the causes and consequences of change, and the strategies of pastoral peoples, governments, and businesses to build resilience, while outlining unresolved challenges. Pastoralists are establishing conservancies and community‑based institutions across state, common, and private lands, and the review analyzes how these and other institutional responses are reshaping rangeland management to enhance resilience.

Abstract

Rangelands cover more of Earth's land surface than any other type of land. They have variable and harsh climates, are sparsely populated and remote from markets, produce significant quantities of livestock, and are mostly used and managed in common. Under this already unpredictable and harsh climate, pastoral peoples and rangelands face new and accelerating political, economic, and climatic stresses that challenge their coupled resilience and ability to adapt. In response, pastoralists are creating new ways to manage rangelands through conservancies and community-based institutions on state, common, and private land. In this review, we focus on recent advances in our understanding of rangeland social-ecological systems, as well as on the causes and consequences of change in these systems. We then explore how pastoral peoples, governments, and businesses are responding to these changes to build resilience to sustain both pastoralism and rangelands. We close with a description of unresolved issues, challenges, and questions for the future.