Ecology (other)

What Are the Benefits of Transhumance?

 
German Portillo
By German Portillo. January 17, 2025
What Are the Benefits of Transhumance?

Transhumance is an ancient practice where livestock are moved between different grazing areas based on seasonal changes, optimizing natural resources and promoting sustainability. This practice, found in various regions around the world, offers numerous benefits, from preserving biodiversity to boosting local economies.

In this article by thedailyECO, we’ll explore what transhumance is, the ecological, economic, and cultural benefits it provides, and how it works in different parts of the globe.

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Contents
  1. What is transhumance how does it relate to the environment?
  2. Types of transhumance
  3. Benefits of transhumance
  4. What countries is transhumance practiced?

What is transhumance how does it relate to the environment?

Transhumance is an ancient and sustainable grazing practice involving the seasonal movement of livestock between different pasture areas. During summer, herders lead their animals to high-altitude or mountainous grasslands, while in winter, they move to lower, warmer regions. This method efficiently utilizes natural resources and adapts to the unique climatic and geographical conditions of each region.

From an ecological perspective, transhumance offers significant environmental benefits. By spreading livestock across various areas, it prevents overgrazing, which can harm soil quality and reduce biodiversity. The movement of animals also aids in seed dispersal, promoting plant regeneration and enhancing vegetation diversity. Additionally, transhumance helps maintain open landscapes, reducing the spread of scrubland and lowering the risk of forest fires.

Want to learn more about the future of farming? We explore what regenerative farming is.

What Are the Benefits of Transhumance? - What is transhumance how does it relate to the environment?

Types of transhumance

Transhumance is classified into different types based on regional, climatic, and geographical factors, as well as the routes used. These variations reflect the adaptability of this ancient practice to diverse environments around the world.

Vertical transhumance:

The most common form, vertical transhumance, involves moving livestock between different altitudes. During summer, herders lead animals to mountainous regions with cooler temperatures and abundant pastures. In winter, they descend to milder valleys or plains where food is still available. This practice is prevalent in mountain ranges such as the Alps (Europe), Andes (South America), and Himalayas (Asia).

Horizontal transhumance:

This type features livestock movement across regions at the same altitude but with varying climatic or ecological conditions. For instance, animals may move to wetter areas during dry seasons and return to arid regions during rainy periods. Horizontal transhumance is common in regions dominated by expansive plains, such as North Africa and parts of Central Asia.

Coastal transhumance:

In coastal transhumance, livestock shifts between coastal areas and inland regions. Coastal zones, with their moderate winter climate, provide refuge during colder months, while inland pastures are utilized in summer. This practice is typical in Mediterranean regions, where climatic differences between coastlines and interiors are significant.

Cross-Border transhumance:

In some cases, transhumance routes cross international borders, allowing herders to access pastures in neighboring countries. This type is common in areas where ecological conditions span multiple nations, such as among nomadic herders in the African Sahel or between Spain and Portugal in Europe.

Benefits of transhumance

Transhumance offers a wide range of benefits, impacting ecological, economic, cultural, and social aspects in profound ways.

Ecological benefits:

  • Biodiversity conservation: transhumance helps preserve biodiversity by preventing overgrazing, allowing pastures and ecosystems to regenerate naturally.
  • Forest fire prevention: by controlling vegetation growth and reducing dry matter buildup, transhumant grazing helps lower the risk of forest fires.
  • Soil fertility and erosion control: the movement of livestock, along with their droppings, enriches the soil with vital nutrients, improving fertility and helping prevent erosion.
  • Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions: as a more sustainable form of livestock management, transhumance generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to intensive farming methods.

Economic benefits:

  • Efficient resource use: transhumant herders can utilize pastures that would otherwise remain unused during certain seasons, making efficient use of natural resources.
  • Sustainable food production: products from transhumant livestock, such as meat and milk, are often of superior quality, offering a competitive edge in the market.
  • Cost savings: by relying on natural grazing rather than costly processed feeds, transhumant herders can significantly reduce their operational expenses.

Cultural Benefits:

  • Preserving traditions: transhumance is an integral part of the cultural heritage in many regions, preserving ancient traditions and ways of life.
  • Strengthening community and identity: the practice fosters a strong sense of identity, reinforcing community bonds and facilitating the transmission of knowledge across generations.

Inspired by the positive impact of transhumance? Discover a broader framework for understanding our relationship with the natural world through Integral Ecology.

What Are the Benefits of Transhumance? - Benefits of transhumance

What countries is transhumance practiced?

Transhumance is a time-honored practice that has developed in various regions across the globe, adapting to the specific geographic, climatic, and cultural conditions of each area. Here are some of the places where transhumance continues to be practiced:

  1. The Alps (Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria): in the Alpine regions, transhumance involves moving livestock between valleys and mountain pastures. This practice is closely tied to the production of famous cheeses like Gruyère (Switzerland) and Parmigiano-Reggiano (Italy).

  2. The Balkans (Greece, Albania, North Macedonia): in the Balkans, shepherds migrate between the mountainous terrain and coastal plains, following seasonal patterns to ensure access to fresh grazing land.

  3. Scotland (Highlands): in Scotland's Highlands, sheep and cattle are moved seasonally between highlands and lowlands, a traditional practice essential to pastoral life in the region.

  4. The Himalayas (India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan): communities like the Gujjars and Bakarwals in the Himalayas practice transhumance, guiding livestock to different altitudes to take advantage of seasonal grazing opportunities.

  5. Central Asia (Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan):transhumance is deeply ingrained in the nomadic lifestyle of Central Asia, where herders move their livestock across vast, open landscapes, often traveling to different grazing areas in response to climate and terrain.

  6. Tibet: tibetan herders, known for their adaptation to high-altitude living, move yaks and goats across the plateau, practicing transhumance to take advantage of the region's unique grasslands.

  7. The Sahel (Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad): in the semi-arid Sahel, transhumant pastoralists follow seasonal migration patterns, moving their livestock between dry regions and wetter areas during the rainy season for better grazing.

  8. East Africa (Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania): communities like the Maasai in East Africa rely on transhumance to ensure access to both water and pasture for their livestock, migrating between the savannahs and highland areas.

  9. The Andes (Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina): in the Andes, transhumance is practiced with llamas, alpacas, and sheep, as herders move their animals between high-altitude grasslands and lower valleys to optimize grazing conditions.

Inspired by the positive environmental impact of transhumance? Discover a parallel approach for the sustainable use of our marine resources through the Blue Economy.

What Are the Benefits of Transhumance? - What countries is transhumance practiced?

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Bibliography
  • Platform for Extensive Livestock Farming and Pastoralism. 2015. Transhumance, Intangible Cultural Heritage. Available at: https://www.ganaderiaextensiva.org/la-trashumancia-patrimonio-cultural-inmaterial/
  • Virtual Museum of Human Ecology. 2024. Transhumance as Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Available at: https://museoecologiahumana.org/piezas/la-trashumancia-como-patrimonio-cultural-de-la-humanidad/
  • Terranostrum. Paths of transhumance. Available at: https://www.terranostrum.es/senderismo/los-caminos-de-la-trashumancia
  • José Tudela de la Orden. Transhumance: its origin, its evolution, its types. Available at: http://soria-goig.com/Etnologia/trashumancia1.htm
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