Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

[ ] 42 Shepherding back biodiversity South Africa’s agricultural sector is responsible for devastating impacts on the environment. Many farmers leave their livestock to graze unattended in large camps, sometimes for months at a time. While the costs are low to the farmers, this system has significant negative impacts on the health of South Africa’s land, especially in arid areas. The vegetation is put under stress, as the animals graze only the most palatable plants and leave no time for it to recover. The system also leaves livestock vulnerable to predators, so many South African farmers use traps or poisons, or hunt down predators with rifles or packs of dogs. The GEF-funded Shepherding Back Biodiversity project aims to mainstream biodiversity conservation on some 50,000ha of agriculturally productive landscapes while simultaneously increasing their production, security, and resilience. Using shepherds is one of the wildlife- friendly livestock farming methods the project is trying to promote. The shepherds guide livestock to appropriate grazing sites and moving them to new pastures when the time is right. They are trained to monitor the condition of the most palatable plants, avoid overgrazing and degradation of the natural vegetation, and provide the land with appropriate rest and recovery. Shutterstock