By David Western

Introduction
Rangeland ecosystems face enormous biophysical, sociocultural and economic changes at an unprecedented rate. Frequent droughts are disrupting the lives of herders, leaving them destitute and unable to cope with the changing times. The Amboseli ecosystem illustrates the many changes affecting herders and their livelihoods. The hardships call for monitoring and identifying the losses, coping mechanisms and best practices in order to build drought resilience.

We have conducted a comprehensive survey to detail the perceived causes, impacts, and responses to the 2022-2023 drought relative to earlier droughts. A well-informed management strategy depends on a clear understanding of the pastoral production systems and coping strategies. The survey by the Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP) was conducted by Sakimba Kimiti and the ACC Resource Assessors (RAs) across the Amboseli ecosystem. The survey was designed to assess livestock losses, social disruption, management strategies, best practices, and pointers to the future sustainability of open rangelands.

The survey findings give valuable pointers to stakeholders in Amboseli to better ecosystem planning and management, and ways to improve drought resilience in the pastoral lands.

Levels of conflicts reported by herders. Lions (32%), hyenas (30%) and elephants (28%) were seen as the main cause of conflict. Cheetah, buffaloes and wildebeest caused relative minor conflict.

Download full report included in the second issue of the Amboseli Conservation Bulletin

By Victor N. Mose

ACP, ACC, and NAU launched a NASA-funded One Health survey using GEDI and local monitoring for ecosystem health.

By David Western, Victor N. Mose, David Maitumo, Immaculate Ombongi, Sakimba Kimiti, Winfridah Kemunto, Samuel Lekanaiya, Paul Kasaine and Sunte Kimiti

The heavy prolonged El Niño rains boosted pastures across the Amboseli ecosystem

By David Western, Immaculate Ombongi and Victor N. Mose

Our study traces the transition from traditional livestock practices based on seasonal migrations to permanent

Post-Drought Perceptions of Herders on Livestock Production in the Amboseli Ecosystem: Impacts, Coping Strategies, and Future Sustainability

Authored by : David Western
Posted on September 5, 2023

Introduction
Rangeland ecosystems face enormous biophysical, sociocultural and economic changes at an unprecedented rate. Frequent droughts are disrupting the lives of herders, leaving them destitute and unable to cope with the changing times. The Amboseli ecosystem illustrates the many changes affecting herders and their livelihoods. The hardships call for monitoring and identifying the losses, coping mechanisms and best practices in order to build drought resilience.

We have conducted a comprehensive survey to detail the perceived causes, impacts, and responses to the 2022-2023 drought relative to earlier droughts. A well-informed management strategy depends on a clear understanding of the pastoral production systems and coping strategies. The survey by the Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP) was conducted by Sakimba Kimiti and the ACC Resource Assessors (RAs) across the Amboseli ecosystem. The survey was designed to assess livestock losses, social disruption, management strategies, best practices, and pointers to the future sustainability of open rangelands.

The survey findings give valuable pointers to stakeholders in Amboseli to better ecosystem planning and management, and ways to improve drought resilience in the pastoral lands.

Levels of conflicts reported by herders. Lions (32%), hyenas (30%) and elephants (28%) were seen as the main cause of conflict. Cheetah, buffaloes and wildebeest caused relative minor conflict.

Download full report included in the second issue of the Amboseli Conservation Bulletin

By David Western

Introduction
Rangeland ecosystems face enormous biophysical, sociocultural and economic changes at an unprecedented rate. Frequent droughts are disrupting the lives of herders, leaving them destitute and unable to cope with the changing times. The Amboseli ecosystem illustrates the many changes affecting herders and their livelihoods. The hardships call for monitoring and identifying the losses, coping mechanisms and best practices in order to build drought resilience.

We have conducted a comprehensive survey to detail the perceived causes, impacts, and responses to the 2022-2023 drought relative to earlier droughts. A well-informed management strategy depends on a clear understanding of the pastoral production systems and coping strategies. The survey by the Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP) was conducted by Sakimba Kimiti and the ACC Resource Assessors (RAs) across the Amboseli ecosystem. The survey was designed to assess livestock losses, social disruption, management strategies, best practices, and pointers to the future sustainability of open rangelands.

The survey findings give valuable pointers to stakeholders in Amboseli to better ecosystem planning and management, and ways to improve drought resilience in the pastoral lands.

Levels of conflicts reported by herders. Lions (32%), hyenas (30%) and elephants (28%) were seen as the main cause of conflict. Cheetah, buffaloes and wildebeest caused relative minor conflict.

Download full report included in the second issue of the Amboseli Conservation Bulletin

By Victor N. Mose

ACP, ACC, and NAU launched a NASA-funded One Health survey using GEDI and local monitoring for ecosystem health.

By David Western, Victor N. Mose, David Maitumo, Immaculate Ombongi, Sakimba Kimiti, Winfridah Kemunto, Samuel Lekanaiya, Paul Kasaine and Sunte Kimiti

The heavy prolonged El Niño rains boosted pastures across the Amboseli ecosystem

By David Western, Immaculate Ombongi and Victor N. Mose

Our study traces the transition from traditional livestock practices based on seasonal migrations to permanent

Posted on September 5, 2023

By David Western

Introduction
Rangeland ecosystems face enormous biophysical, sociocultural and economic changes at an unprecedented rate. Frequent droughts are disrupting the lives of herders, leaving them destitute and unable to cope with the changing times. The Amboseli ecosystem illustrates the many changes affecting herders and their livelihoods. The hardships call for monitoring and identifying the losses, coping mechanisms and best practices in order to build drought resilience.

We have conducted a comprehensive survey to detail the perceived causes, impacts, and responses to the 2022-2023 drought relative to earlier droughts. A well-informed management strategy depends on a clear understanding of the pastoral production systems and coping strategies. The survey by the Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP) was conducted by Sakimba Kimiti and the ACC Resource Assessors (RAs) across the Amboseli ecosystem. The survey was designed to assess livestock losses, social disruption, management strategies, best practices, and pointers to the future sustainability of open rangelands.

The survey findings give valuable pointers to stakeholders in Amboseli to better ecosystem planning and management, and ways to improve drought resilience in the pastoral lands.

Levels of conflicts reported by herders. Lions (32%), hyenas (30%) and elephants (28%) were seen as the main cause of conflict. Cheetah, buffaloes and wildebeest caused relative minor conflict.

Download full report included in the second issue of the Amboseli Conservation Bulletin

Recent Posts

By David Western, Victor N. Mose, David Maitumo, Immaculate Ombongi, Sakimba Kimiti, Winfridah Kemunto, Samuel Lekanaiya, Paul Kasaine and Sunte Kimiti

The outlook for livestock and wildlife in the short dry season normally stretching from January to the long rains

By Victor N. Mose

ACP, ACC, and NAU launched a NASA-funded One Health survey using GEDI and local monitoring for ecosystem health.

By David Western, Victor N. Mose, David Maitumo, Immaculate Ombongi, Sakimba Kimiti, Winfridah Kemunto, Samuel Lekanaiya, Paul Kasaine and Sunte Kimiti

The heavy prolonged El Niño rains boosted pastures across the Amboseli ecosystem

By David Western, Immaculate Ombongi and Victor N. Mose

Our study traces the transition from traditional livestock practices based on seasonal migrations to permanent

By Victor N. Mose, PhD, ACC/ACP, Nairobi, Kenya.

The MOSAIC field mission to the Amazon region, following a previous mission to East Africa

By Victor N. Mose, PhD, ACC/ACP, Nairobi, Kenya.

In a recent community meeting held at the Amboseli Ecosystem Trust offices in southern Kenya.

By Victor N. Mose and David Western

The Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP) has conducted regular aerial sample counts of Amboseli and eastern Kajiado

By Victor N. Mose, David Western and the ACP Team

The Amboseli Conservation Program (ACP) continued to monitor the conditions of the rangelands, livestock and wild

By Victor N. Mose

A notable discussion at the forum focused on disparities in data availability between the Global North and South.

By Victor N. Mose, David Western and the ACP Team

The effects of the good short rains have been felt in the Amboseli area.

Contact Us

Amboseli Conservation Program
P.O Box 15289-00509 or 62844-00200
Nairobi, Kenya.

Tel/Fax: +254 20 891360 / 891751
Email: acc@acc.or.ke