Land degradation, stocking rates and conservation policies in the communal rangelands of Botswana and Zimbabwe | Land Portal

Informações sobre recurso

Date of publication: 
Janeiro 1990
Resource Language: 
ISBN / Resource ID: 
eldis:A26313

This article suggests that communual rangeland management policies in Botswana and Zimbabwe are based on incorrect technical assumptions about the stability of semiarid rangelands, the nature of rangeland degradation, and the benefits of destocking. Consequently, inappropriate policies, stressing the need to destock and stabilise the rangelands, are pursued.Acknowledgement of the great instability but intrinsic resilience of rangeland would encourage the Governments to more favourable regard the opportunistic stocking strategies of the agro-pastoralists of the Communual Areas. Howeve, degradation of rangelands is occurring, although at varying rates. This justifies the promotion of a 'tracking strategy', in which livestock densities are encouraged to follow more closely than at present, variations in rainfall.The establishment of grazing territories controlled by specific 'communities' may be a prerequisite for the promotion of the tracking strategy, and for communal rangeland management and improvement. However, the establishment of such territories must take into account social equity, institutional problems and transaction costs, as well as spatial and temporal variation in rangeland resources.

Autores e editores

Author(s), editor(s), contributor(s): 

N. O. J. Abel
P. M. Blaikie

Publisher(s): 

The Pastoral Development Network represents a world-wide network of researchers, administrators and extension personnel interested in the issues of pastoralism and rangelands. Between 1976 and 1996 the PDN was managed by ODI and published regular mailings including newsletters and a wide ranging series of papers on pastoralism and related issues. There were also a number of other related publications.

Provedor de dados

eldis (ELDIS)

Eldis is an online information service providing free access to relevant, up-to-date and diverse research on international development issues. The database includes over 40,000 summaries and provides free links to full-text research and policy documents from over 8,000 publishers. Each document is selected by members of our editorial team.


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