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Comprehensive strategies for sustainable rangeland ecosystem restoration
Author
Louhaichi, M
Publisher
XII International Rangeland Congress
Publication Year
2025
Body

The development of a resilient and sustainable pastoral landscape is crucial for reversing degradation and ensuring long-term ecological health. Historically, unsustainable practices and climate change have severely degraded these landscapes. The context f or restoration involves complex socio-economic, cultural, and ecological factors, necessitating a holistic approach. Key risks and drivers of change include climate variability, land tenure conflicts, and socio-economic pressures on land use. This paper presents comprehensive strategies for sustainable rangeland restoration, drawing on over two decades of experience in arid rangeland restoration and supported by relevant existing literature. Effective planning requires a deep understanding of socio-cultural dynamics, land tenure, and rights to access, rather than focusing solely on biophysical and technical aspects. Identifying target groups that are homogenous and less prone to conflict is essential to initiate restoration efforts effectively. Setting clear restoration priorities and targets, determining appropriate interventions, and understanding the specific uses of restored areas are critical components of the planning process. The basic steps for restoring a degraded ecosystem include agreeing on a common goal, establishing robust governance structures, and devising effective strategies. Removing sources of degradation or conflict is fundamental, followed by physical and biologi cal restoration efforts. Patience is vital, as ecological restoration is a ti me-consuming process. Success factors include multi-stakeholder engagement, leveraging institutional collaborations to enhance resource utilization and efficiency, securing long-term investments and commitments, and supportive national and local policies. Utilizing local practices and knowledge, along with community empowerment, ensures ownership and sustainability of the restoration process. In summary, intervention strategies for restoring degraded pastoral landscapes are site-specific, requiring tailored approaches rather than a one-size-fits-all solution. Restoration efforts must be coupled with effective management to be successful, and inappropriate policies can exacerbate damage. Developing national institutions' capacity through new tools, monitoring, and grazing management is essential for sustained restoration and rehabilitation efforts.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Additional Information
This paper is part of the larger XII International Rangelands Congress Proceedings. Page Numbers: 2112-2115. Theme: Hosted session / Crafting a New Narrative for Sustainable Rangeland Management in Africa
ISSN
978-0-646-72121-7
Conference Name
International Rangeland Congress
Collection
International Rangelands Congress
Keywords
Rangeland health
rangeland governance
rangeland assessment
regenerative grazing
multi-stakeholder engagement