Sustainable Grazing and Marginal Environments: Climate Perspectives from Transhumant Pastoralism in Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract (English)

This article examines the environmental and livelihood implications of transhumant pastoralism through a case study of the Chopan pastoralists in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in the high-altitude Trajan pasture, the study investigates how Chopan herders manage livestock in ecologically marginal environments and how their practices intersect with contemporary climate change debates.
The paper challenges the widespread view that all livestock systems contribute significantly and uniformly to greenhouse gas emissions. It argues that such generalizations often overlook the specific characteristics of extensive, low-input systems like those practiced by pastoral communities. Through qualitative observations, interviews, and grazing pressure analysis, the study finds that Chopan herding practices remain within sustainable ecological limits. The estimated carrying rate of 10.32% indicates underutilization rather than overuse of the pasture, suggesting that pastoralism in this context does not lead to environmental degradation.
The study also highlights the broader benefits of pastoralism, including contributions to food security, natural nutrient cycling, and the use of land that is otherwise unsuitable for agriculture or forestry. Chopans rely on generational knowledge to make grazing decisions, manage animal health, and respond to environmental variability. However, the study also documents significant challenges faced by these herders, such as restricted access to traditional grazing lands, lack of institutional support, and exclusion from formal policy processes.
While the findings are based on a single community and site, the article provides evidence that calls for a more differentiated understanding of livestock systems in climate policy. It recommends recognizing traditional pastoral knowledge, ensuring legal access to grazing areas, and involving pastoralists in decision-making processes. The study concludes that transhumant pastoralism, far from being environmentally harmful or outdated, offers a sustainable model of land use in high-altitude regions under conditions of ecological uncertainty.