Introduction Pastoralists in eastern Ethiopia keep camels, cattle, goats, sheep and/or donkeys for their livelihood (Baars 2000). The livestock rely entirely on the natural rangeland for their nutrition. The conservation of this natural resource is hence extremely important, as it forms the basis and limits of pastoralist economy (Ahmed 1989). Degradation of the rangeland, defined as a reduction in the long-term productive capacity, results in a decrease in livestock production, which in turn affects the livelihood of pastoralists. Hence, proper management and conservation of the rangeland is essential. Rangeland degradation has taken place in eastern Ethiopia (Lulseged 1985; Survey 1992). This implies that rangelands have been exploited, without a corresponding conservation having been carried out. Scientists, administrators and pastoralists all put forward their own reasons and explanations for this state of affairs. In this paper we intend to analyse the perceptions of pastoralists towards rangeland degradation during the last twenty to thirty years. Our aim is firstly, to assess their awareness and opinions concerning rangeland degradation, secondly, to identify the reasons they give as to its causes and impacts, and finally, to set out their suggestions as to possible solutions to the problem. Their perceptions and analyses are, when required, supplemented by our own observations. Materials and Methods The study area This study was conducted in the Shinile Zone of the Somalia National Regional State, in eastern Ethiopia. Shinile Zone borders the Afar Region in the north, Djibouti in the north-east, and is hedged in by mountain fringes in the south and the west. The Zone has a human population of 354,053 of whom 85 percent live in rural areas (Census 1994). Pastoralism predominates, whereas cultivation is found in specific but small areas in a fringe along the highlands. The average annual rainfall ranges from about 250 mm in the northeast to 600 mm in the south, with a considerable variation between years (MOA 1982; see Map 1). The rainfall has a bimodal pattern, with slight rains from March to May and relatively heavier rains from July to September (MOA 1983). During the wet season the herds are found throughout the Zone in the plains, but during the dry season they graze mostly along the mountain fringes. The dominant soil types are fluvisols, lithosols and regosols (Survey 1992). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Survey design A one-visit structured questionnaire was used in September 1998 to elicit responses from among twenty-six randomly selected male pastoralists, with an average age of 51 years (range 40 to 80). Five areas were selected: two 10 to 45 km away from Shinile town (Shinile N=7 and Harmukaale N=6), the other three more than 60 km away from Shinile town (Harawa N=3, Aydora N=7, and Aysha N=3). Twenty-three respondents were nomads, who shift their households frequently; the remaining three were semi-sedentary pastoralists. Results Current rangeland conditions The availability of grass was said to range from nil to several tons per hectare, depending on the rainfall and location, but it was in general judged as inadequate (see Table 1). The most common forage species were the grasses Chrysopogon plumuloses and Lasiurus scindicus, and the herb Tribulus (Table 2). Trees were mainly found along watercourses and mountains, and were scarce elsewhere. The most common trees were Acacia spp. (A. tortilis, A. bussei and A. senegal/A hamulosa) and Cadaba mirabilis. The notorious weed Parthenium hysterophorus was mentioned by 23 percent of the respondents. Cacti were not mentioned as common, although they dominate in some areas. Although erosion in the wet season was reported, the Zone is not very susceptible to water erosion because of its plain character. Gully and stream bank erosion, as well as drain enlargement, were mentioned. …