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.  

The mobility of livestock has direct benefits for water cycle regulation, as it helps reduce pressure on water resources by consuming water where it is available during their movement. Additionally, mobile livestock promotes a slow release of nitrogen and other nutrients, preventing water pollution through leaching.  Unlike the large water footprint attributed to industrial livestock systems, the footprint of mobile pastoralists is minimal. Their use of blue water (water extracted from streams or reservoirs) is negligible, and their reliance on green water (rainwater) does not impact the overall availability of water, as they depend on natural vegetation. Most importantly, their positive impact on soil structure enhances water storage capacity and regulates the water cycle.  

Furthermore, traditional water infrastructures maintained by mobile pastoralists are crucial for sustaining populations of many amphibian species, directly benefiting biodiversity.

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