The FAO Pastoralist Knowledge Hub (PKH) team was invited to give a lecture at the Summer School Session on Mountain Ecosystems and Resources Management on 14 September 2023. The presentation titled 'Improving Governance of Pastoral Lands Through the Promotion of Livestock Mobility' highlighted the importance of governance of pastoral lands and legislation for livestock mobility.

Gregorio Velasco, the coordinator of the PKH, introduced the session, emphasizing how the dynamic and intricate livelihoods of pastoralist communities depend significantly on mobility. This strategy enables them to thrive in environments characterized by resource variability. During his presentation, he highlighted the significance of pastoralist mobility, emphasizing that it sustains their way of life, serves as a crucial climate change adaptation and resilience strategy, and avoids land degradation. Additionally, he highlighted the upcoming International Year of Camelids, 2024 and the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, 2026, which aim to raise awareness and advocate for the value of healthy rangelands and sustainable pastoralism, as well as advocating for the need to build the capacity of further and increase responsible investment in the pastoral livestock sector.

Moreover, Gregorio discussed how pastoral mobility offers multiple ecosystem services and economic contributions by providing access to markets. He also delved into the opportunities and challenges associated with pastoralism, such as maintaining shared resources and optimizing livestock productivity through sustainable practices. However, he pointed out the obstacles faced by pastoralists, including insecure land tenure, border crossing restrictions, livestock movement disruptions, and the lack of recognition and supportive policies.

Caroline Ruto, a consultant with the PKH, talked about the drivers and determinants of pastoral mobility, highlighting that resource access stands at the core of pastoral mobility. For pastoralist communities, it's essential that resources, including food and water for both humans and livestock, are accessible. This encompasses not only the dynamics of resource ownership but also access.

She underscored the importance of recognizing the variability in mobility patterns influenced by climate, topography, and land tenure, among other factors. Mobility conditioned by climate and topography encompasses horizontal and vertical movements. Mobility conditioned by land tenure includes mobility through livestock corridors or demarcated routes, common or public lands, and privately owned lands. Each type of mobility carries its implications for resource access and management.

Furthermore, the presentation stressed the need to secure pastoralist mobility for resource access and underlined the importance of legal recognition for sustaining their unique way of life. In conclusion, the presentation called for policies and initiatives that address conflict resolution, support social services and infrastructure and honour traditional practices to ensure pastoralist communities' continued resilience and prosperity.