Pastoralist Communities
Pastoralism is one of the oldest forms of organized human society. However, this way of life is increasingly under threat and not only because of encroaching desertification and the effects of a voracious development. Today’s political, legal, social and economic policies and laws are not taking into consideration the needs of nomadic populations.
Pastoralists are people who derive their living mainly from the management of livestock, such as goats, sheep, cattle or camels, which live off natural forage on rangelands. Pastoralism is a way of life and animals also play key roles in their societies’ traditions, culture and beliefs. Pastoralists may be nomadic where they move throughout the year with their families and herds, or may be sedentary where they are more or less settled in one defined area. Others practice what is called ‘transhumance’ where the community has a settled base from where there is migration during certain parts of the year.
Hunter-Gatherer Communities
Hunter-gatherers are people who live off the land by hunting wild animals and collecting roots, wild berries and honey. Their traditional lifestyle is one in harmony with the land and their societies are known to be egalitarian with the sharing of resources.
Although they still keep many of their traditions, they are slowly being assimilated by the pastoralists who are a more dominant group, and today some also keep a few cattle or have small farms. Hunter-gatherers are people who live off the land by hunting wild animals and collecting roots, wild berries and honey. Their traditional lifestyle is one in harmony with the land and their societies are known to be egalitarian with the
sharing of resources.
Although they still keep many of their traditions, they are slowly being assimilated by the pastoralists who are a more dominant group, and today some also keep a few cattle or have small farms.