Large Scale Grazing Systems (LSGS) in the Western Region of Afghanistan: typologies, issues and options for sustainable rangeland management

Large scale grazing systems in the Western Region of Afghanistan are an essential source for nomads and a large part of sedentary farmers, which drive their income from animal rearing and employment in the livestock industry. In addition, LSGS have changed over time under different disturbances and pressures and the path of change is an essential part of their identity.Objective of this study is to identify the different grazing system’s typologies, to address the most relevant issues and identify options for sustainable management of rangeland resources, with specific reference to the most relevant LSGS in the Western Region of Afghanistan.Expert surveys, structure and semi structure interviews as well as community mapping and participatory techniques for field survey were the main methods used.The prevalent way of rangeland utilization in Western Region is based on sheep and goat grazing systems. Rangeland utilization has been framed in to four typologies;Kuchi,Nimeh Kuchi,Deh nashin(sedentary) and semi sedentary, each type has effects on rangelands in a particular way.Lacks of an alternative resource for fire fuel collection, rangeland conversion to cropland, grazing pressure, drought, and inaccessibility of grazer animals to water, proved issues of fundamental importance in WR.Poverty of rural population, inequitable access to rangeland and limited capacity of the government to mitigate natural disasters are the major challenges.Participatory approaches based on closed collaboration with local communities, and improvements of their traditional institutions are vital for the sustainable management of rangeland resources and the development of pastoralist production systems.