Are pastoralists’ herds a climate threat?

An FAO report suggests that pastoralism is part of the global problem of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Some researchers see the situation differently. The debate could affect pastoralist cultures worldwide. In his blog “Are world’s 200 million pastoral herders a climate threat?” published in The Christian Science Monitor (24 April 2024), Michael Benanav argues that the calculations of GHG emissions from pastoral livestock is answering the wrong question, namely how much is emitted pro amount of protein produced. This makes pastoralism appear less efficient than intensively raised livestock. He quotes the findings of the researcher Pablo Manzano, who focuses on how emissions from pastoral livestock compare with the emissions that would be produced by the same ecosystems if herds were absent and were replaced by wildlife. The blog refers primarily to the Afar pastoralists in Ethiopia and includes some striking photos.

Posted on 26 April 2024 in Pastoralism & Climate Change