3rd Edition of Agriculture, Forestry, and Horticulture World Conference 2027

Abstract

Migratory pastoralism in the Himalayan region is a dynamic livelihood system that connects low, mid and high-altitude pastures through seasonal livestock mobility. The system is increasingly influenced by climate change, extreme weather events, land-use transformations and forest governance interventions. This study evaluates the sustainability of migratory pastoral systems in Himachal Pradesh, India, using primary data from two hundred pastoral households collected through a structured questionnaire covering socio-economic characteristics, herd composition, land use, migration routes and ecosystem-wise fodder availability. Pastoral households operate small landholdings averaging 7.72 kanals (3905 m2), largely cultivated with maize and wheat, with negligible fodder species. Livestock rearing therefore, depends heavily on common property resources such as forests, grasslands and high-altitude pastures. The average herd size was 285.6 animals per household, dominated by sheep and goats. Over the past decade, 76.67 per cent of households reported declining sheep numbers and 80.00 per cent reported declining goat numbers, reflecting increasing ecological and economic stress. Despite smaller herd sizes, all respondents observed improved average animal weights, with seasonal movement enhancing productivity: adult sheep weight increased from 19.40 kg to 24.27 kg and goat weight from 21.33 kg to 25.73 kg. Climate change has significantly altered fodder regimes and migration dynamics across low, mid and high hill ecosystems. Pastoralists reported delayed departures towards higher elevations and delayed returns to lower hills due to erratic snowfall, rising temperatures and irregular rainfall. Declining and uncertain fodder availability in lower and mid-hill areas compels herders to travel longer distances and ascend to higher-altitude pastures for adequate grazing. In high-altitude zones, 93.33 per cent reported reduced fodder quantity and extended migration routes. Cloudbursts, landslides and unseasonal rains frequently disrupt traditional migratory paths, damage grazing lands, and increase livestock mortality, intensifying livelihood vulnerability. In the mid-hills, forest protection measures restrict grazing access, while in the low hills, dependence on grasslands and grazing duration has increased. Sustaining migratory pastoralism requires securing seasonal migration routes, ensuring regulated access to grazing lands, strengthening community-based pasture management and integrating climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction into regional planning.