Subsistence and Persistence: Constructing Pasture in Koobi Fora, Kenya

Mobile pastoralism – in which communities raise livestock herds by moving between shared grazing areas – is a common subsistence livelihood in arid and semi-arid lands. Recent studies have emphasized the disruptive and creative role of mobile pastoralism in the maintenance of grassy ecosystems and their biodiversity. This talk will introduce an interdisciplinary study investigating these effects among Daasanach pastoralist communities in northern Kenya. In particular, it will consider how Daasanach herding shapes the character of the ecosystems used for pasture and contributes to the long-term persistence of pastoralism in this environment.

This lecture is part of the Environmental Studies Program Hoch Cunningham Environmental Lecture Series and is being co-sponsored by Tufts’ Center for Animal and Public Policies.