Module 1: Introduction

Lesson 7/24 | Study Time: 0 Min

Course: Pastures, Pastoralism and Rangeland Governance

Advance Certificate (Online) | P-001

Pastures, Pastoralism and Rangeland Governance

Course Director: Dr. Hasrat Arjjumend

MODULE 1: PASTURES AND RANGELANDS

Instructor: Dr. Muhammad Khurshid

Field Practitioners: Ms. Kuluipa Akmatova and Ms. Elvira Maratova

Dear Students,

Welcome to Module 1: Pastures and Rangelands!

This module is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the significance of pastures and rangelands in sustaining key ecosystem services, supporting biodiversity, and significantly contributing to pastoralist livelihoods, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Throughout this week, we will be focused on key concepts, frameworks, principles of pasture and rangeland management, exploring their ecological functions, the challenges they face, and strategies for sustainable use. This module is essential as it lays the foundation for understanding the complex relationship between land use, environmental sustainability, and human well-being. Through this course, you will gain valuable knowledge of the management practices necessary to maintain the health and productivity of pasture landscapes.

In this module, we will be focused on the following units:

Unit 1.1 Pasture and Rangeland Ecosystem
Unit 1.2 Pastures and Pastoralists Communities (Case Studies)
Unit 1.3 Pasture Biodiversity and Ecology of Species
Unit 1.4 Participatory Pasture Conservation
Unit 1.5 Natural Livestock Farming and Grazing Management
Unit 1.6 Sustainable Livelihood of Shepherds and Pasture Tourism

We hope you will find it interesting to attend this Module. The module has been designed to illustrate facts, information and issues related to Pastures and Rangelands in a form of research results, case studies and/or issues, in a manner to enable you to look at pastoralism from different angles for better understanding. In addition, the module is focusing on realizing the importance of pastoralism as a land use system, that is facing number of challenges and surrounded by number of misconceptions and obstacles, that are hindering its development. Pastoralism is almost practiced widely in the world, representing a mean of livelihood for big numbers of people. In spite of its environmental, social and economic importance at international and national levels, pastoralism development and sustainability are facing number of challenges.

Unit 1.1: Pasture and Rangeland Ecosystem

1.1.1 Introduction to Pastures and Rangelands
1.1.2 Geographical Extent of Rangelands
1.1.3 Socio-Economic and Ecological Functions of Rangelands
1.1.4 Sustainable Rangeland Management and Contributions to the SDGs

Unit 1.2: Pastures and Pastoralists Communities (Case Studies)

1.2.1 Pastoralism or Pastoral System
1.2.2 Case Study: Pasturing System in Kazakhstan
1.2.3 A Case of Pastoralists from Himalayan Region
1.2.4 Socio-Cultural Features of Pastoral Societies
1.2.5 Key Challenges

Unit 1.3: Pasture Biodiversity and Ecology of Species

1.3.1 What is Biodiversity?
1.3.2 Pasture Biodiversity
1.3.3 Major Threats to Pastures Biodiversity

Unit 1.4: Participatory Pasture Conservation

1.4.1 Understanding Participatory Process
1.4.2 Participatory Pastures Management and Conservation
1.4.3 Pasture Management Plan
1.4.4 Case Study: Community based Pasture Management in Kyrgyzstan: Success and lesson learned

Unit 1.5: Natural Livestock Farming and Grazing Management

1.5.1 Natural Livestock Farming
1.5.2 Animal Health Care
1.5.3 Grazing Management
1.5.4 Rotational Grazing: Best Management Practice
1.5.5 Continuous Grazing and Overgrazing

Unit 1.6: Sustainable Livelihood of Shepherds and Pasture Tourism

1.6.1 Pastoral Livelihoods in Sustainability Context
1.6.2 Pastoralism as a Risk Management Strategy
1.6.3 Pastoral Livelihood’s Assets
1.6.4 Pastoral Tourism