Pastoralism serves as a climate adaptation strategy in Africa

Agropastoralism and nomadic pastoralism are emerging as critical adaptation strategies against climate change in arid and semi-arid regions. In Burkina Faso, agropastoralists are facing increased pressure on natural resources due to population growth, expanding cultivated land, and larger herds. These factors, combined with climate variability, have made access to land, water, and pastures more difficult, leading to tensions between different users of the land.

In the Horn of Africa, specifically in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia, pastoralism supports approximately 20 million people and accounts for an average of 57% of the regional agricultural GDP. Once viewed as an outdated practice, the mobility inherent in pastoralism—moving herds according to seasonal water and pasture availability—is increasingly recognized for its role in soil protection, biodiversity conservation, and food security in the face of advancing desertification.