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Pastoralism and Development in Africa: Dynamic Change at the Margins. Edited by A. Catley, J. Lind and I. Scoones. Abingdon, Oxon, UK: Routledge/Taylor and Francis (2012), pp. 328, £24.95 (pb). ISBN 978-0-415-54072-8.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2012

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Abstract

Type
Book Review
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

This book, which deals with ‘The Greater Horn of Africa’, from Tanzania to the Sudan, is based on papers presented to a conference on ‘The Future of Pastoralism in Africa’ held in Addis Ababa in 2011. Its assessment of the state of the region's pastoral industry is much more positive than that of popular media. Novel development pathways in marginal areas are being devised which are not easily adopted or recognised by the mainstream; these are informal, often hidden and may contradict the priorities of political elites. Pastoralists have always struggled with drought, conflict and famine so are resourceful and commercial by necessity. They now understand markets and their trade networks are massive, supplying regional cities and exporting to Arabia; informal systems are difficult to tax. Authors stress pastoral resource management and entrepreneurialism with cooperation across social and economic borders. Major threats to pastoral society include population increase, there are now more pastoralists than the grazing and livestock can support; they seek alternative livelihoods but get little assistance. Loss of grazing land is often due to land clearing for crops, usually of low sustainability and doubtful profitability; these developments are usually on floodplains, which provide the dry-season grazing on which the rest of the rangelands (and wildlife) depend. This book is recommended to all interested in pastoralism and should be especially valuable to planners and decision makers.