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About 1 billion animals worldwide are herded by pastoralists. These include sheep, goats, cattle, camels, yaks, horses and reindeer. -
65% of meat, and 70% of milk sold on local markets in the Sahel region come from pastoral systems. -
Pastoralists are key to the food security in such areas as drylands, highlands, wetlands, and shrublands where crop production is difficult. -
Pastoralists promote rangeland health by improving soil fertility, conserving biodiversity, managing fires and accelerating nutrient cycling. -
Pastoralists follow customary and community-based rangeland management practices over a range of land tenure types. -
Pastoralists employ strategic mobility to adapt to variable climatic conditions.
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Pastoralism is not just a livelihood, but also a cultural system closely linked to its natural environment. Pastoralists have a treasure of local and indigenous knowledge. -
Pastoralist women have varied roles in the pastoral household, caring for livestock, land and sometimes finances.