The Impact of Climate Change on Pastoralism in Salahley and Bali-gubadle Districts, Somaliland

Pastoralism is a traditional land management and production system which mimics wildlife in its basic principles. Through its dynamic, flexible and complex structures it has proved to be mostly adapted to the erratic climate and changing natural  conditions of dry lands by providing and conserving a large array of ecosystem services in semi-arid to arid areas. During the last decades it has been increasingly recognized that pastoralism is essential for the sustainable management and ecological health of dry lands, but also highly sensitive to increasing environmental degradation and global warming. It is threatened by several factors like the sedentarisation policies, intensive agriculture, ecological degradation and low social status accorded to pastoralists among many others.

Pastoralism can be assumed to be mostly capable of dealing with climate change by making best use of patchy vegetation, erratic rainfalls and coping with increasing droughts. However, climate change itself affects pastoralism and all ecosystem services it provides. Pastoralism in its role to deal with climate change and climate change as a factor which has negative impact on pastoralism is the subject of this report. This report analyses how climate change impacts the ecosystem services pastoralism provide and the socio-economic and environmental strategies employed in the coping strategies. It is an attempt to document the impact of climate change on pastoral livelihoods in the two districts of Salaxley and Balli-Gubadle in Somaliland.

The study relied more on primary data collected through participatory tools such as Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), and Focused Group Discussions (FGD) as well as review of documented information. The findings of the study indicate several impacts that the climate change process has had on the pastoralism in Salahley and Baligubadle districts. There is a growing concern among community members that there are changes in the weather pattern in comparison to the past, for example changes in temperature and rainfall levels. As a result, the traditional weather forecasting has changed to an extent that the predictions are not valid anymore. The community perceives change in the mating calendar of sheep as well as mating behaviour and time of wildlife.

Climate change and the combined effects of soil erosion and reduced vegetation cover/deforestation is also leading to biodiversity loss with its longer consequences of loss of indigenous knowledge and information systems on pastoral production and natural resource management, ethno-veterinary knowledge, weather forecasting etc. The combined effect of land degradation and extreme weather conditions has caused food insecurity among the pastoral communities in the study area. Livelihoods have suffered very much from consecutive droughts and most people do not see any future in pastoralism. There is increasing disruptions to families as well as increasing poverty. The declining number of livestock during droughts also affects the number of marriages. The study reveals the decline of biomass of the vegetation as well as species loss in the last few decades. Extreme weather conditions in the form of storms, icy rains and flash floods have been experienced. Respondents mentioned that there is an average increase in temperatures resulting in heat stress on animals. The prolonged droughts, increased wind speeds and temperatures are some of the most prominent stress agents that impact on plant dynamics. The disappearances of rangeland species have given room to bush encroachment and invasive species.

Consecutive droughts have led to chronic water scarcity across the area, leading to acute water crises. Though indirectly, climate change is perceived to have led to the erosion of traditional institutions and the overall disorientation of environmental governance, leading to environmental degradation and increased conflicts, especially on land. As competition for resources increase, equally conflicts arise between and among herders, charcoal producers and wildlife. Climate change has also exacerbated human-animal conflicts. The scarcity of wild foods and pasture is driving these animals to adopt aggressive grazing and food collection habits which bring them into conflict with humans. As a result of climate change, pastoralists’ way of life is undergoing great transformation and the trend is moving towards higher vulnerability, loss of solidarity mechanisms for coping with droughts, destitution and dropping off from pastoral life.

Pastoral production system depends on the availability of natural resources which are sensitive to climate change. What complicates their situation is that pastoralists do not have a diversified pool of resources to draw from, which makes them more vulnerable. Due to the prevailing vulnerability of pastoralists as well as uncertainties over the pastoral productivity, many households have diversified their means of livelihoods to cope with climate change. Commercialization of milk is now common and many pastoralists have switched to charcoal production to compensate for economic losses from pastoralism, but are aware that this will also not be sustainable in the long run. An increasing number of pastoralists who lost their animals are leaving livestock production altogether, making their way to major urban centers, particularly Hargeisa town. The pattern of land use is undergoing a great transformation, particularly in the hilly areas towards south of Hargeysa. More and more ex-pastoral households are settled and establishing rain-fed farms.

Some individuals have resorted to fencing communal land (enclosures) for their own exclusive use to ensure continuous access to grazing land as well as farming. The study recommends a number of policy options and strategies towards climate change. It also proposes need for policy advocacy at national and international levels on climate change issues as well as increasing water use efficiency and productivity; soil conservation and flood reduction; sustainable agriculture; promoting economic diversification and alternative livelihoods. There is also the need for research and development of innovative solutions to the challenges affecting pastoralism.