Pastoralism in the Maghreb: A Review on Environmental, Socio-Cultural, Economic and Political Aspects

Abstract

Pastoralism is a livelihood system based on extensive production of livestock (e.g. cattle, sheep, goats, camels) mainly on marginal lands. It is a traditional activity in the Mediterranean in general and the Maghreb (viz. Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia) in particular. This review casts light on research regarding pastoralism in the Maghreb. In particular, the paper analyses the benefits of pastoralism as well as the challenges faced by pastoralists in the region from the environmental, sociocultural, economic and political points of views. A search performed in July 2020 on the Web of Science yielded 113 documents and 68 of them were included in the systematic review. The analysed literature emphasizes the negative impacts of pastoralism and the challenges faced by pastoral communities in the Maghreb. These include climate change, land degradation and desertification, poverty and livelihood vulnerability as well as the ongoing erosion of pastoral culture and traditions. Doing so, scholars question the future of pastoralism in the region and highlight the need for its adaptation and transformation through, among others, moving towards agro-pastoral systems. There is a dearth of articles that highlight the positive impacts and benefits of pastoralism in the Maghreb. However, the literature shows that pastoralism has a long tradition and is an integral part of the Maghrebi culture and history, and values the traditional knowledge of pastoralists as well as their adaptive capacity. The review shows that there is a gap in research on pastoralism in the Maghreb especially regarding economics. In this context, regional projects such as PACTORES (Pastoral ACTORs, Ecosystem services and Society as key elements of agro-pastoral systems in the Mediterranean) result crucial to bridge the current knowledge gap and foster the sustainable development of pastoralism in the Maghreb and the Mediterranean at large.

Livestock grazing systems and sustainable development in the Mediterranean and Tropical areas

“…use of concentrates and random mobility), the lifestyles of grazing communities (e.g. schooling), the economic context and rural policies (Bencherif, 2018;El Bilali et al, 2020). Cultivation (mainly of cereals and arboriculture) and the silting up and subsequent desertification of the most intensively used areas of the steppes have led to a reduction of more than 25% of their surface area (Hirche et al, 2018).…”

“…Numerous factors have weakened steppe grazing vegetation, starting with more pronounced droughts, but above all anthropogenic factors: cultivation of rangelands, increase in livestock numbers, (Bencherif, 2018;El Bilali et al, 2020; see also "Adaptation trajectories of livestock in the territories" in this section).…”

Élevages au pâturage et développement durable des territoires méditerranéens et tropicaux

“…Les steppes du Maghreb sont soumises à une exploitation humaine très ancienne via l'élevage extensif d'ovins et de caprins complété par la culture itinérante des céréales (Aïdoud et al, 2006). Au cours du xx e siècle, cet élevage a connu des mutations sous l'effet de l'évolution de la démographie, de l'expansion des cultures dans des terres de parcours, de la croissance du cheptel, de l'évolution de l'accès aux ressources, des sécheresses prolongées, de nouvelles pratiques d'élevage (apport de concentré et mobilité aléatoire par exemple), des modes de vie des sociétés pastorales (scolarisation par exemple), du contexte économique et des politiques rurales (Bencherif, 2018 ;El Bilali et al, 2020).…”

“…De nombreux facteurs ont affaibli les végétations pastorales steppiques, à commencer par les sécheresses plus prononcées, mais surtout les facteurs anthropiques : mise en culture des terres de parcours, augmentation du cheptel, etc (Bencherif, 2018 ;El Bilali et al, 2020 ; . voir aussi Trajectoires d'adaptation des élevages dans les territoires dans ce chapitre).Lors d'études dans des terroirs qui présentaient une homogénéité pédoclimatique, nous avons relevé une hétérogénéité spatiale des formations végétales à Stipa tenacissima, Lygeum spartum et Stipagrostis pungens.…”