Afforestation-induced grazing restrictions undermine pastoral livelihoods and trigger socioecological shifts in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60460709%3A41340%2F25%3A103725" target="_blank" >RIV/60460709:41340/25:103725 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101273" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101273</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101273" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101273</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Afforestation-induced grazing restrictions undermine pastoral livelihoods and trigger socioecological shifts in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Original language description
Using focus group discussions and participant observations in nine villages of pastoralist communities in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region of Pakistan, this study analyzed the perceived impacts of large-scale afforestation programs on the livelihood of grazing communities, and the strategies they adopted in response to forest enclosures. The grazing restrictions severely reduced green forage availability and access, undermining the sustainability of pastoral-based livelihoods. Pastoralists reported an overall reduction in livestock and animal-based products due to frequent sell-off of animals, abandonment of pastoralism, and animal deaths caused by fodder shortages. Consequently, milk and meat prices have increased manyfold in the study region. To cope with the fodder shortage, pastoralists adopted various strategies such as migration, crop-livestock integration, use of alternate routes, and climate-smart agroforestry systems (e.g., communal plantations). The adoption of a particular strategy was influenced by household and community characteristics, including herd size, ownership of pasture and agricultural land, and household size. Despite these efforts, livestock-based livelihoods continue to weaken, threatening food security. Communities suggested several feasible solutions to the government, including the creation of buffer zones for grazing, allowing grazing in areas with low regeneration and high grass density, providing incentives to herders, establishing information centers under the Billion Tree Afforestation Project, and creating a separate livestock department. Based on this case study, we recommend that the state involve local pastoralists in co-designing nature-based conservation plans.
Czech name
—
Czech description
—
Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
—
OECD FORD branch
40101 - Agriculture
Result continuities
Project
—
Continuities
S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach
Others
Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Environmental Development
ISSN
2211-4645
e-ISSN
2211-4645
Volume of the periodical
56
Issue of the periodical within the volume
SEP 2025
Country of publishing house
NL - THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS
Number of pages
11
Pages from-to
1-11
UT code for WoS article
001518003700001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-105008443003