This spring, we are accompanying the Bacak family of Sarıkeçili nomadic pastoralists in Turkey during their hundreds of kilometres of spring migration from their wintering site on the shores of the Mediterranean to their summering sites in Central Anatolia, beyond the Taurus Mountains. Their journey highlights various dimensions of mobile pastoralism as a biodiversity and climate-friendly cultural practice. We are excited to share our in-situ observations day by day, each focusing on a particular aspect of mobile pastoralism.  

Livestock grazing is an effective tool for soil stability, restoration, and resilience. Grazing adds manure to the nutrient cycle and restores vegetation cover, as mobile herds allow pastures to rest and trees to regenerate. Seasonal livestock migration ensures that pastures are left just as grass becomes scarce and before animals start browsing on young saplings, allowing these plants to survive.  

Grazing can be used as a tool for soil restoration, restoring vegetation cover to prevent floods and erosion. This process also improves plant and arthropod diversity. Low grazing pressure has been observed to be a preferable restoration strategy over complete grazing cessation or afforestation. While full restoration of previous diversity is challenging, preventing the abandonment of grazing practices is preferable. Additionally, manure increases soil macroaggregates, compaction resistance, and water content capacity, all of which directly contribute to erosion resistance.

On this page