Transhumance System Research Articles

Herders and livestock professionals’ experiences and perceptions on developments and challenges in yak farming in Bhutan

Context The yak-based transhumant system is influenced by socioeconomic developments, regulations and environmental changes. Little is known about the impact of this on yak farming practices among different regions in Bhutan. Aim and methods The experienced changes in yak farming practices over the years and perceptions on developments were assessed through interviews with yak herders in three regions (west, n = 22; central, n = 20; east, n = 25) and with livestock extensionists (n = 28). Key results At present, forage shortage in the rangeland, yak mortality mainly due to (endangered) wild predators and, to a lesser extent, labour availability are the main concerns in all yak farming regions. These concerns have increased due to socioeconomic developments (e.g. education and other sources of income) and strong conservation policy, which affects the living environment of the yaks. Overall, the market to sell yak products and livestock extension services has improved, but forage shortage and yak mortality has increased over the years. However, some factors causing forage shortage are more specific to certain regions, e.g. competition with the horse population (west), cattle and cattle–yak hybrids (east), cordyceps collection (west and central) and prohibited burning of rangelands (central and east). Family labour available to herd yaks has slightly decreased, and the number of young family members (successors) to take over yak farming has decreased over the years. Conclusions On the basis of the experiences and perceptions of yak herders and extensionists, we conclude that increasing forage shortage in the rangelands, decreasing numbers of successors, and increasing yak predation by wild animals are the major threats to yak farming. Implications This study demonstrates that yak farming in Bhutan experiences an increasing pressure to sustain. Differences between regions make clear that a one blanket-policy will not be effective to preserve yak farming for the future.

Caracterización apícola en la región sierra centro-norte de Veracruz: contexto y trashumancia


 Este artículo presenta el resultado de una investigación realizada de agosto 2015 a noviembre 2016, para caracterizar la producción apícola y actividad trashumante de los municipios de Misantla, Yecuatla, Colipa, Juchique de Ferrer y Tenochtitlan. Se realizaron entrevistas con especialistas, expertos y productores de miel. Se encontró que la actividad apícola la realizan al menos 500 familias con experiencia promedio de 22 años, con sistemas trashumantes semi extensivos y producción promedio de 24 kg de miel por colmena, de los cuales 9% tienen más de 500 colmenas bajo esquemas semi-tecnificados. Entre estos sistemas el 10% de apicultores han invertido en la diferenciación de los productos de la colmena. El volumen de miel generado con sistemas de producción de una abeja reina por colmena es al menos 90 t año-1, con valor económico de $ 174 000.00 (US$). Se ha encontrado que 90% de los apicultores de la región trashuman entre lugares de dicha región y 23% de ellos lo realizan a otra entidad. Por otra parte, también el acceso y permiso a terrenos son factores que definen las rutas trashumantes e identificación de zonas aptas apiarios. Esta investigación aporta un mapa de zonas utilizadas como asentamientos de apiarios, como trabajo de investigación, sus resultados merecen la atención futuras investigaciones para identificar zonas espaciales mediante sistemas de geoposicionamiento, así como un programa de trashumancia para dichos emplazamientos en función de calendarios de floración.

Use of Satellite Imagery for Pastoral Resources Monitoring in Kossi Province (Burkina Faso)

In Burkina Faso, livestock sector has an important place in the country's economy. Essentially extensive, this livestock farming is characterized by transhumance system, which consists of leading livestock sometimes over long distances in search of good pastures and water.Satellite images from different periods can be used to monitor the evolution of pastoral resources (pasture areas and surface water points) in a given area. Field data, coupled with satellite images, provide a better understanding of livestock transhumance movements in the study area. The objective of this study was to monitor the spatial and temporal evolution of pastoral resources using remote sensing tools in Kossi province. Field data, coupled with satellite images, provide a better understanding of livestock transhumance movements in the study area.

The interconnection of mountain and lowland landscapes in historical perspective

Most historic landscape research takes place within individual countries or even regions. However, landscapes and regions have always been interconnected and we cannot understand any landscape without taking their connections into account. This is certainly the case with mountain landscapes, which were often framed as remote, isolated and self-supporting, but in reality were always connected to the outside world. Exchange with lowland regions existed in different forms: in transhumance systems, in specialised forms of agriculture and in specific products. Over the long run, the resilience of mountain landscapes was not connected to stability, but to creative adaptation to ever changing eternal conditions.

Woody encroachment and soil carbon stocks in subalpine areas in the Central Spanish Pyrenees

Woody encroachment has been an ongoing process in the subalpine belt of Mediterranean mountains, after land abandonment, the disappearance of the transhumant system and the decrease of the livestock number. The main objectives of this study were: (i) to identify land use/land cover (LULC) changes from 1956 to 2015, and (ii) to investigate the effects of LULC changes in physical and chemical soil properties and soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) stocks. It is hypothesized that woody encroachment in the subalpine belt may lead to significant changes in soil properties, and will generate an increase in the SOC stocks. A land use gradient was identified in the subalpine belt of the Central Spanish Pyrenees: (i) subalpine grasslands, (ii) shrublands, (iii) young forests, and (iv) old forests. Mineral soil samples were collected every 10 cm, down to 40 cm, at three points per each LULC and a total of 48 samples were analyzed. The results showed that (i) woody encroachment has occurred from 1956 to 2015 due to the expansion of coniferous forests and shrublands (at the expense of grasslands), (ii) land cover and soil depth had significant effects on soil properties (except for pH), being larger in the uppermost 0–10 cm depth, (iii) SOC and N contents and stocks were higher in the grassland sites, and (iv) the woody encroachment process initially produced a decrease in the SOC stocks (shrublands), but no differences were observed considering the complete soil profile between grasslands and young and old forests. Further studies, describing SOC stabilization and quantifying above-ground carbon (shrub and tree biomass) are required.

Slaughter performance and carcass and meat quality of Bergamasca light lambs according to slaughter age

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of slaughter age (40 vs. 60 days) on slaughter performance, carcass and meat quality, and fatty acid composition of intramuscular and subcutaneous fat of Bergamasca lambs reared according to the traditional transhumant system in central Italy. Lambs slaughtered at 60 days of age had higher carcass weight (12.44 vs. 10.36 kg), lower dressing percentage (47.68% vs. 52.16%), and higher proportion of non-carcass components and leg commercial cut (37.82% vs. 35.49%). Furthermore, after 3 and 6 days of storage, the meat of older lambs showed lower drip loss (3.69% vs. 6.16%; 5.73% vs. 9.36%, respectively). Slaughter age did not influence meat pH, cooking loss, or chemical composition while older lambs had meat with higher a* (19.43 vs. 18.91). The fatty acid composition of intramuscular fat was not affected by slaughter age, except for C:13 and C:14 fatty acids, which were higher in older lambs. Subcutaneous fat of lambs slaughtered at 40 days of age showed a better fatty acid profile, as lower saturated fatty acids (52.46% vs. 55.68%) and higher mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids (34.06% vs. 30.16%, 6.46% vs. 5.79%, respectively), and n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, subcutaneous fat of lambs slaughtered at 40 days of age had better polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio (0.12 vs. 0.11) and hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio (1.42 vs. 1.03), and lower atherogenic index (1.32 vs. 1.82) and thrombogenic index (1.98 vs. 2.35). For light lamb production using the traditional rearing systems, slightly heavier lambs can be produced without worsening chemical composition and cooking loss and fatty acid composition of the longissimus lomborum muscle. However, lambs slaughtered at 60 days of age had lower dressing percentages and higher SFA amount of the subcutaneous fat than lambs slaughtered at 40 days.

Milk production and milk composition of the Boutsko bred of ewes in Epirus

A flock of 244 hill sheep of the indigenous Boutsko breed of Epirus (NW of Greece), 1-6 years old, reared under a transhumance system was used to study their milk productivity for a period of 14 months (March - June of next year). In addition three groups of ewes, aged 3 to 4 years (group A with 10 ewes suckling a single male lamb, group Βwith 10 ewes suckling a single female lamb and group C with 10 ewes suckling twin lambs) were kept under the same conditions of nutrition and management with the rest of the above flock. They were studied for a 26-week lactation period (4-week suckling period. 22-week milking period) to assess the effect of sex and number of lambs suckled on milk yield, milk composition and body reserves. The results of the study have been summarized as follows: 1) Lactation period (suckling period=4 weeks, milking period=32 weeks) was very long (36 weeks). Throughout milking period milk production of the ewes was 93.7 Kg. Of this 82.3% was produced during the winter period and 17.7% during the summer period. Persistency of milk production was low. One month after weaning of lambs the milk yield of ewes was reduced by 49% and 44% of the level at weaning for singlesuckled and twin-suckled ewes, respectively. 2) Throughout lactation, milk yield and milk composition were not affected by sex of lambs suckled. However, milk yield of ewes was affected by the number of suckled lambs; twin-suckled ewes produced more milk during the suckling period ( + 15.7%, Ρ < 0.05) and milking period (+21.8%, Ρ < 0.05) than those of single-suckled ewes. Fat, protein and dry matter concentration of milk was lower (P<0.05) in twin-suckled ewes than in single-suckled ewes. Concentration of all milk constituents was affected by stage of lactation (P<0.05).

Morphological and reproductive characteristics of the Boutsko sheep of Epirus

A flock of 244 hill sheep of the indigenous Boutsko breed of Epirus (NW of Greece), 1-6 years old, kept under a transhumance system, was used to study their morphological and reproductive characteristics for a period of 14 months (March -June of next year). The results of the study could be summarized as follows: 1) The Boutsko sheep studied is a rather small indigenous hill breed (mature body weight of ewes=40,7±0,37 Kg and rams = 54,4±l,82 Kg) with hardness, longevity, early maturity and high adaptability to the harsh environmental conditions of being its most important characteristics. 2) The mating period begins relatively early (June) lasts until September, with ewes being mated first, followed by ewe hoggs and gimmers. 3) Pregnancy duration was 144,3 ±0,09 and 146,5± 0,07 days for the ewes bearing twin and single Iambs, respectively (P<0,001) and 144,0 and 145,9±0,12 days for the gimmers bearing twin and single lambs, respectively (P<0,05). Body condition score of animals at the end of pregnancy remained satisfactory (3.25 ±0,14). 4) Fertility of the animals was high. All females were mated and lambed. Lambing rate at birth and at weaning was 1,25 and 1,04, respectively.

Meat production of the Boutsko breed of ewes in Epirus

A flock of 244 hill sheep of the indigenous Boutsko breed of Epirus (NW of Greece), 1-6 years old, reared under a transhumance system was used to study the growth of suckled lambs and their carcass quality. The results of the study have been summarized as follows: 1) Birth liveweight of lambs was 4.3 ±0.12 Kg (single males), 3.9±0,10 Kg (single females) (P<0.05) and 3.6±0.08 Kg (twins) (P<0.01). The corresponding liveweights at slaughterwerell.2±0.25Kg, 10.7±0.23Kg and 11.3±0.36 Kg and their carcass weights 7.1 ±0,17 Kg, 7.1±0,17 and 6.9 ±0.26 Kg. 2) The conclusion drawn from the results of this study is that the Boutsko breed is a useful and well adapted genotype of sheep. However, its meat productivity is very low and could be improved by further within breed selection and/or grazing on improved pasture.

A survey of selected animal-based measures of dairy cattle welfare in the Eastern Alps: Toward context-based thresholds

In the Alps, traditional dairy farms are small-scale operations where vertical transhumance from valley indoor housing systems to highland pasture-based systems is still practiced in summer. Vertical transhumance implies a substantial change of environment, available resources, and management practices from one season to another. In such systems, animal-based welfare measures need to be monitored throughout the year to capture the variation of welfare outcomes, based on which targeted welfare management plans can be implemented. Because the Welfare Quality assessment approach has been tailored to indoor housing and intensive farming systems, the European Food Safety Authority recently developed a welfare assessment protocol for small-scale dairy cattle farms adapted after the Welfare Quality framework. The aim of this study was to assess nonbehavioral animal-based measures as defined by this protocol at different time points for transhumant systems in the Alps. In total, 18 animal-based measures were assessed before, during, and after the mountain pasture period in a sample of 67 small-scale dairy cattle farms practicing vertical transhumance in neighboring provinces of Austria, Italy, and Slovenia. Significant differences between assessments were identified for dirtiness of legs and teats, hairless patches, lesions and swellings, claw condition, ocular discharge, and diarrhea whereas BCS, lameness/severe lameness, vulvar discharge, nasal discharge, and hampered respiration were unchanged between seasons. In addition, a benchmarking exercise was carried out to identify relative boundaries (worst quartile thresholds) for each animal-based measure and to contribute to the discussion about achievable welfare outcomes for the 2 husbandry conditions that characterize a transhumant system. Worst quartile thresholds indicated a high prevalence of dirtiness (>80%) when cows were kept indoors, high prevalence of hairless patches (65%) before pasture turnout, and high prevalence of very lean cows (>13%) throughout the assessments. On the other hand, the best quartile thresholds for most clinical conditions suggested that high welfare standards (zero prevalence) are widely achievable in mountain farms practicing vertical transhumance during all assessments. The thresholds identified through benchmarking should serve as the basis for an effective context-based welfare management strategy promoting continuous welfare improvement on-farm.

Digital wiki map of pastoral geographies in eastern Senegal

The persistence of transhumance systems requires continued access to key pastoral resources that together allow the seasonal movement of livestock herds over long distances. In dryland West Africa, these pastoral resources are vulnerable to competing land uses - particularly agriculture. The mapping of pastoral resources is needed as a necessary but insufficient first step in local to national efforts to manage competing forms of land use in ways that do not threaten transhumance as a form of land use. In the hopes of spurring analogous efforts elsewhere, a new digital map of the transhumance system in eastern Senegal is described. Not only does it provide detailed information about key transhumance resources (water points, encampments, corridors, pastures), but allows these to be updated, queried and questioned through an on-line interface.

Penicillin-G and oxytetracycline residues in beef sold for human consumption in Maroua, Cameroon

BackgroundThe contamination of food by chemical hazards is a worldwide public health concern and is a leading cause of trade problems internationally. Based on former work describing the prevalent use and misuse of antibiotics in cattle in the Far North Region of Cameroon, we designed a study to detect antibiotic (penicillin G and oxytetracycline) in beef sold for human consumption in Maroua (Cameroon). To determine the mean concentration of antibiotic residues in beef, sample of liver and muscle were collected from 202 cattle selected randomly in all the slaughterhouses of Maroua and Godola and analyzed using Liquid Chromatographic tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Characteristics of the cattle selected (age, sex, breed, body condition score, weight, production system, and pathology, etc.) were also collected before and/or after slaughter – by physical examination and survey, and post mortem examination.ResultsResults revealed that out of 202 cattle 41 (20.30%) tested positive for antibiotics in one or more of their organs. The meat of cattle from transhumance system, sick animals and older cattle was more likely to be contained with penicillin G and oxytetracycline residues. The average residues concentration in beef was 17.58 μg/kg for penicillin G and 240 μg/kg for oxytetracycline.ConclusionsThe findings of the present study should be alarming for the legislative authorities in food security and safety. This highlights a very serious problem, both for the consumers of Maroua city and the herders of the region as well as for the whole economy of Cameroon. It is therefore be important that measures be taken at several levels by the actors of the sector (public authorities, veterinary auxiliaries, etc.) to guarantee the safety of the food of animal origin.

Woody plant encroachment following grazing abandonment in the subalpine belt: a case study in northern Spain

The montane and subalpine belts in European mountains were affected by intense land use/land cover changes during the twentieth century. In the case of the subalpine belt, most European mountains were affected by complex deforestation processes from Neolithic times, leading to the expansion of summer grasslands to support grazing by transhumant sheep and goats flocks. This resulted in an altitudinal reduction of the tree line and the occurrence of severe soil erosion and shallow landsliding. The intense livestock pressure over centuries explains why the landscape remained without major change until the middle of the twentieth century. Since then, depopulation, land abandonment, and the disappearance of the transhumant system have resulted in a marked decline in livestock numbers and subsequent encroachment of shrubs and trees in the subalpine belt. The Urbion Mountains (Iberian Range, northern Spain) provides one of the clearest examples in the Iberian Peninsula, where there was intense deforestation since the Neolithic period to enlarge the area of subalpine summer grasslands. The recent reversal of this situation in the last decades led to (i) a marked trend to dense forest, which resulted in an average 200 m altitudinal advance, and (ii) the spatial contraction of shrublands, which have been replaced by dense forest in the highest areas. Changes will continue in the future, possibly enhanced by global warming.

Globalisation and traditional social-ecological systems: Understanding impacts of tourism and labour migration to the transhumance systems in the Himalayas

Globalisation has increased the flow of people, ideas, knowledge, technology and money by varying degrees. Due to constraints such as inaccessibility and fragility, the Himalayan region remained isolated from the outside world until relatively recently. Globalisation has however, now breached such isolation with increased tourism in some areas and increased migration from others. The accelerated rate of tourism and out-migration has the potential to affect different components of traditional socio-ecological system (SES). In the high Himalayan region, the transhumance is a system based on seasonal and recurring movement of livestock. This paper aims to explore the contemporary transhumance systems and impacts of tourism and labour migrations to the SES. The study was conducted in three sites in the northern mountainous areas of Nepal, having either significant tourism activities or labour migration. Primary data were collected by means of livestock census, household survey and focus group discussions. The results show that there were variations in proportions of households involved in transhumance, herd size, herd composition and seasonal mobility across the study sites but transhumance remains a major source of income and an important livelihood strategy for local people in all sites. Tourism and labour migration have reduced the number of households involved in transhumance systems and herd size by changing labour and income dynamics of the households but there are differential outcomes across the study sites. The findings of this study can contribute to strategies and policies for adaptation of SESs experiencing change pressures from non-traditional factors.

Pastoralism in Europe: characteristics and challenges of highland-lowland transhumance.

Transhumant pastoralism remains a prevalent form of land use across Europe, especially in mountain areas. Besides generating food and other products, it provides a range of public goods and services that are often highly valued by broader society. But transhumance faces structural challenges associated with life in remote mountain areas, including economic pressures, lack of services, low prestige, and ageing populations. These threaten its future. The decline of transhumant systems leads to ecological, economic, and socio-cultural losses, e.g. the loss of biodiversity, of shared cultural heritage based on pastoral practices, and of common property institutions. There are a number of activities that will help to ensure the future of European transhumance, including: i) raising awareness of the public services it provides, ii) better integrating pastoral issues into national agricultural policies, and iii) increasing support for so-called high nature value (HNV) farmlands, which often feature extensive grazing.

Goat Breeds Performance under Different Farming Systems and Conditions of Water Availability in the Karak Governorate , Jordan = أداء سلالات الماعز تحت نظم الزراعة المختلفة و ظروف توافر المياة في محافظة الكرك ، الأردن

This study aims to evaluate the productive performance of local goat breeds under different production systems and conditions of water availability in the Karak Governorate of Jordan. Data collection methods comprised a survey applied to 120 purposively selected goat keepers (59 in mountain zone, MZ and 61 in semi-desert zone, SDZ), group discussions, on-farm measurement of body weight (BW) and evaluation of body condition score (BCS) of goats. Goat keepers perceived Mountain Black (MB) and Dhaiwi (DW) goats to have higher water tolerance than Damascus goats and their crosses (CB). BW of adult does was significantly affected by age (P<0.001), interaction between system and breed (P<0.05) and between age and breed (P<0.01). BCS of adult does was significantly affected by age (P<0.01), breed (P<0.01) and season (P<0.01). BW of growing kids was significantly affected by age (P<0.001), breed (P<0.01), sex (P<0.05), feeding intensity (P<0.01) and interaction between age and sex (P<0.001). In contrast, only the age (P<0.001) of growing kids and watering frequency (P<0.05) significantly affected their BCS. CB does had higher BW and BCS than MB does whereas CB growing kids had lower BW than MB growing kids. The BW of CB for adult does in transhumant system was higher than BW of MB. BCS of adult does was significantly higher during the mid of dry season compared to that during end of dry season. The BCS of growing kids was higher at farms where goats drank once or twice a day than where goats were watered three times or had free water access. It could be concluded that water availability did not limit the body weight development of neither of the breed groups. Further investigations on the direct effects of water deficiency on performance of goat breeds under more extensive production system are recommended.

Obsidian conveyance and late prehistoric hunter-gatherer mobility as seen from the high Wind River Range, Western Wyoming

Sampling 16 of 52 house features at High Rise Village (HRV; 48FR5891), a large residential locus at 3,273 m (10,720 ft) elevation in Wyoming's Wind River Range produced 25 AMS dates, 23 diagnostic projectile points, 148 obsidian artifacts (mostly retouch debris) as well as abundant chert debitage, small quantities of faunal bone, and groundstone milling equipment. Based on AMS, projectile point, and obsidian hydration data, the site's lodges appear to have been occupied on a sporadic basis mainly between 2,300 and 850 cal BP. Source provenance determination made via X-ray fluorescence spectrometry indicates that most of the obsidian at the site originated in Jackson Hole and secondarily is from Yellowstone Plateau sources, suggesting a Late Prehistoric residentially-mobile, seasonal, and elevationally transhumant settlement system focused on the Jackson Hole area. GIS-based assessments of the costs of procuring the obsidian found at HRV suggests, however, that though economic considerations certainly played a principal role in determining obsidian conveyance decisions, other factors such as social or cultural dynamics may have conditioned the preference for Yellowstone sources over eastern Idaho sources, ultimately suggesting that social boundaries played a role in generating the different toolstone conveyance zones seen in the region during the Late Prehistoric.

The development of human activity in the high altitudes of the Schnals Valley (South Tyrol/Italy) from the Mesolithic to modern periods

This paper reports on the previous use of a mountainous landscape (Schnals Valley, South Tyrol/Italy) and how this relates to socio-economic processes from the Mesolithic to modern period. The results of archaeological surveys, the interpretation of excavated archaeological features and changes from natural to cultural landscape as evidenced by palynological and plant macrofossil analyses are presented and discussed. The resultant land-use-history documents a human presence over more than 10,000years and evidences the diversity of human activities during these prehistoric and historic periods. In the Mesolithic (c. 9000–6000calBC) the availability of faunal species above the tree line is seen as the main attractor for the investigation of high altitudes by humans. At the beginning of the Neolithic (c. 6000–3500calBC), there seems to have been little interest in the high alpine environment of the Schnals Valley despite the existence of agro-pastoral communities in the main valley of Vinschgau. Following a hiatus, new evidence for human presence is observed at the end of the Neolithic (about 4000calBC), probably caused by a climate deterioration that forced populations to frequent the high alpine landscape for hunting once again. During the Chalcolithic (c. 3500–2200BC), the Iceman and his equipment demonstrate utilisation of the area for hunting just as in the earlier periods. A major impact on the natural landscape is emerges during the Bronze Age (c. 2200–1000calBC) based on the onset of transhumance system in the study area. Pasture indicators show intensification during the Middle Bronze Age (c. 1700–1350calBC) validated also by archaeological features connected to pastoralism. High alpine farming remains important in later prehistoric periods. The Iron Age (c. 1000–15calBC) is represented by an initial decrease in find sites, caused by the Hallstatt climate depression before the emergence of a favourable climate for high alpine farming about 400calBC. During the Roman period, pollen diagrams show continuity in pastoral activities, however this is not reflected by archaeological features. During the Medieval and modern periods, human activity increases again as documented by a large number of animal enclosures and by a regional transit route for communication across the passes of the main Alpine ridge.

Yak rearing systems among the Brokpas of the Eastern Himalaya in Arunachal Pradesh

The study was carried out to understand the transhumance system of yak rearing in West Kameng and Tawang districts of Arunachal Pradesh through the interview of 80 yak pastoralists. Majority (78.75%) of the Brokpas, practiced concentrate feeding to their yak herds. Cent%of yak herdsmen practiced natural services and transhumance system of rearing management. Majority (88.75%) of yak herdsmen reported disease animal being treated by para vets. Majority (97.75%) of yak herdsmen move with family during the time of migration. Majority (77.50%) of the respondents stated hostile weather and environment as a major constraint during migration. Socio personal, economic and communicational characteristics viz. age, family size, annual income, mass media exposure etc had positive and significant relationship with the rearing practices of the Monpa pastoralist.

A social–ecological network analysis of Argentinean Andes transhumant pastoralism

Many mountainous regions worldwide are characterized by harsh environments, scarce infrastructure, and extreme contrasts between mountains and neighboring plateaus and plains. Transhumance is a social adaptation to handle geomorphological heterogeneity such as lowlands and highlands, and to cope with environmental variability (seasonal and regional rainfall and snowfall). We studied the regional transhumant system with a network approach in the Andes of North Patagonia, Argentina. We measured the connectivity promoted by the seasonal movements of herds and people (relationships) among different ecosystems (nodes), defined as winter and summer lands. We identified 238 networks. The highest frequencies corresponded to small network structures (dyads and triads), suggesting that landscape management is highly decentralized. Network complexity was positively related to ecological richness and diversity of connected nodes. However, most networks were dependent upon a central node, suggesting vulnerable situations regarding disturbances affecting such key nodes. The identification of social–ecological traps of this mobile system provided novel insights for policy decision making, which otherwise would not be evidenced with traditional approaches. Management proposals and policy making should consider the spatial and temporal scales of transhumant pastoralism, in order to avoid problems derived from fixation logics, scale mismatches, and disconnection.