The grazing system is predominantly dependent on the natural productivity of grasslands, and therefore defined largely by the agro-ecological zone. The toolbox uses 4 climatic zones at the starting point of the analysis. The populations relying on these systems are generally referred to as Pastoralist Groups, with their main differences defined by their mobility in response to environmental variability. At one extreme the nomadic groups are highly mobile, living in areas with major differences in both seasonal and annual climatic patterns. At the other end agro-pastoralists and ranchers operate sedentary systems where seasonal and annual climatic variations are minor.
The toolbox uses four climatic zones as the starting point of the analysis: Arid, Semi-Arid, Sub-Humid humid zones and Temperate and Tropical Highlands with a further breakdown by resource access.
Sub-systems within the Grazing System