Sustainability of transhumance grazing systems under socio-economic threats in Langtang, Nepal

Abstract

The decline or loss of traditional social-ecological systems may induce adverse effects to the societies and ecosystems. Transhumance; the recurring and seasonal movement of grazing livestock; is increasingly constrained by a numbers of factors including policy; land use and socio-economic changes in Nepal. To explore how these changes have affected the transhumance; this study investigated transhumance at the Langtang valley in central Nepal. The specific objectives of this study were to determine the herd size and composition; spatial-temporal patterns and to identify the major drivers of the system and the system changes. Data were collected from field study comprising semi-structured interviews with the herders; focus group discussions; key informants survey; and observations of rangeland and livestock management systems. The study revealed that the transhumance system in the Langtang is influenced by two types of drivers. In one hand; traditional practices are contributing to the sustainability of the system. On the other hand; the grazing patterns and adaptive responses are strongly influenced by changes in government policies; socio-economic and cultural transformation; livestock productivity; markets; rangeland conditions and climate change. The findings of this study help with the development and implementation of transhumance management policy for the sustainability.