1. The main reasons behind the logic of mobility in Benin:

- Access to water and grazing lands in dry seasons: in Northern Benin (i.e. the Alibori & Borgou regions), rainfall is highly seasonal. Hence, pastoralists move their herds southwards during the dry season to access grazing lands and water sources otherwise unavailable in their home areas. Without mobility, herders would face severe feed shortages, leading to livestock loss and economic hardship.

- Reducing overgrazing and land degradation: mobile pastoralism prevents pressure on a single area by distributing grazing over wider range. In Benin, pastoralists often follow designated transhumance routes (e.g. Malanville-Parakou corridor), allowing vegetation to regenerate while livestock moves.

- Cross-border transhumance for economic survival: many herders in Benin also depend on seasonal migration to Niger, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria to find better pastures & livestock markets (e.g. Beninese pastoralists move their cattle to Nigeria's Sokoto & Kebbi states where forage is still available). This helps avoid catastrophic losses during droughts and ensures continuous market access for selling livestock at better prices. 

2. The main gaps in knowledge & research areas (regarding logic of mobility) in Benin:

- Lack of mapping of pastoral mobility routes and grazing areas: there is no comprehensive, up-to-date map of transhumance corridors, seasonal grazing zones, and water points in Benin. Therefore, land-use planning remains inefficient, leading to conflicts as well as poor infrastructure support. Research should focus on using satellite imaging and field surveys to document and protect key pastoral coriddors.

- Impact of agricultural expansion and land privatisation: traditional grazing lands are increasingly converted into farmland (especially in Borgou, Donga and Alibori regions) - limiting mobility, increasing pressure on remaining pastures, and fuelling conflicts between pastoralists and farmers. Studies should quantify land-use changes and explore solutions (i.e. community land-sharing agreements or protected grazing reserves). 

- Weak cross-border coordination on transhumance: many Beninese herders rely on seasonal cross-border migration, but inconsistent regulations, border closures and security issues disrupt mobility. There is little research on how cross-border policies impact pastoral livelihoods or how regional agreements can improve sustainable mobility. Studies should evaluate existing cross-border grazing frameworks and propose coordinated strategies for managing transhumance.