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Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) cover about 10% of India's geographical area and are extremely fragmented. Sustainable use of ONEs for low-input livelihoods like extensive pastoralism requires an understanding of the nature of the dependence of pastoralists on these native habitats. This is especially crucial in India where such socio-ecological systems lack recognition and are classified as 'wastelands' in policy and legislation. We tracked livestock movement in different land uses of western India's ONEs f or 109 days between 2022-2023. We used non-participant observations and interviews with pastoralist men and women to understand movement-related decision making. Based on simple linear models and availability vs use frameworks, we infer pastoralism's fine-scale use of the landscape. Livestock movement patterns show that pastoralist dependence on ONEs at higher elevations is highest in the monsoon (use is >2.5 times the availability of ONEs), and the availability of irrigation, household labor, and social networks determines this movement. Pastoralism in this region is heavily influenced by the availability of agricultural residues and farmer decisions contrary to the popular understanding, some households appear to benefit from irrigated agriculture. Despite rapid land transformations, however, pastoralism remains a low-input and economically lucrative livelihood that allows seasonal use of savanna ecosystems. Our findings contribute to understanding of how these ONE-based livelihoods navigate land use change and offer insights into the potential of community-led ecosystem management.