8
1 The Principles of Green
Fulani pastoralists had long lived in relative harmony with sedentary agriculturalists before recurring droughts within arid and semi-arid land (ASAL)
regions over the past five decades. The droughts have resulted in desertification, which minimizes the arable land for farmers and cattle to graze. As
a result, the Fulani have migrated to the Guinea savanna and tropical areas
leading to competition with other farmers (Okeke 2014). Overgrazing has
been one of the contributing factors to the overuse of available resources,
alongside farming and climate change.
Farmers accuse the herders of destroying their crops and contaminating
watering-places. It is evident from this revelation that there could be a
Tragedy of the Commons of not only land but also shared water resources. On
the other hand, farmers are accused by the Fulani of denying them access to
grazing lands when they cannot find other options (Okeke 2014). The conflict
is mainly attributed to the increased competition for natural resources, which
is a key characteristic of the Tragedy of the Commons concept.
Similarly, the Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania have been accused of engaging
in overgrazing the land they occupy (see Fig. 1.1). The result is that they
leave trails of destruction and are forced to move to other areas to find
grazing lands. They consider cattle as a valuable aspect of their day-to-day
lives. A few decades ago, there were few Maasai, probably due to the harsh
environment, which deterred them from accessing clean water, shelter, and
food. The Moran, a popular term in Maasai meaning warriors, often roamed
the plains found in modern-day Ethiopia, Kenya, and Sudan searching for
cattle to steal. They also waged war for water, grazing lands, and cattle.
However, the life expectancy of the Moran was short because of low birth
rates and high infant mortality. Today, because of significant changes, Maasai
populations have substantially increased with improved lifespan and lower
infant mortality. The factors that necessitated these changes are police
control, laws and regulations, infrastructural development, and warring tribes.
The Maasai are thriving but still hold onto their culture of cattle rearing.
The increased Maasai population implies that there are a lot of cattle, which
results in potential overgrazing and overpopulation, and subsequently, a
decline in local wildlife. The Maasai used to live harmoniously with nature
by cherishing Enkai, a higher spirit. Enkai would bring about life within
the savannah and ensure that grass sprouted again for the livestock to feed
after the dry seasons. Today, however, many of their stories and wisdom
have disappeared and been overtaken by the desire to fit in and adapt to
modern life. Overpopulation of the Maasai has made land sparse, while
hunger has also become more frequent. The lack of knowledge over resource
conservation has contributed to overgrazing that harms water resources and
the land and has partly contributed to the destruction of the wilderness. This
case study has provided insight into the importance of Mother Nature, and
local communities play a crucial role in the conservation of such ecosystems.
1 The Principles of Green
Fulani pastoralists had long lived in relative harmony with sedentary agriculturalists before recurring droughts within arid and semi-arid land (ASAL)
regions over the past five decades. The droughts have resulted in desertification, which minimizes the arable land for farmers and cattle to graze. As
a result, the Fulani have migrated to the Guinea savanna and tropical areas
leading to competition with other farmers (Okeke 2014). Overgrazing has
been one of the contributing factors to the overuse of available resources,
alongside farming and climate change.
Farmers accuse the herders of destroying their crops and contaminating
watering-places. It is evident from this revelation that there could be a
Tragedy of the Commons of not only land but also shared water resources. On
the other hand, farmers are accused by the Fulani of denying them access to
grazing lands when they cannot find other options (Okeke 2014). The conflict
is mainly attributed to the increased competition for natural resources, which
is a key characteristic of the Tragedy of the Commons concept.
Similarly, the Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania have been accused of engaging
in overgrazing the land they occupy (see Fig. 1.1). The result is that they
leave trails of destruction and are forced to move to other areas to find
grazing lands. They consider cattle as a valuable aspect of their day-to-day
lives. A few decades ago, there were few Maasai, probably due to the harsh
environment, which deterred them from accessing clean water, shelter, and
food. The Moran, a popular term in Maasai meaning warriors, often roamed
the plains found in modern-day Ethiopia, Kenya, and Sudan searching for
cattle to steal. They also waged war for water, grazing lands, and cattle.
However, the life expectancy of the Moran was short because of low birth
rates and high infant mortality. Today, because of significant changes, Maasai
populations have substantially increased with improved lifespan and lower
infant mortality. The factors that necessitated these changes are police
control, laws and regulations, infrastructural development, and warring tribes.
The Maasai are thriving but still hold onto their culture of cattle rearing.
The increased Maasai population implies that there are a lot of cattle, which
results in potential overgrazing and overpopulation, and subsequently, a
decline in local wildlife. The Maasai used to live harmoniously with nature
by cherishing Enkai, a higher spirit. Enkai would bring about life within
the savannah and ensure that grass sprouted again for the livestock to feed
after the dry seasons. Today, however, many of their stories and wisdom
have disappeared and been overtaken by the desire to fit in and adapt to
modern life. Overpopulation of the Maasai has made land sparse, while
hunger has also become more frequent. The lack of knowledge over resource
conservation has contributed to overgrazing that harms water resources and
the land and has partly contributed to the destruction of the wilderness. This
case study has provided insight into the importance of Mother Nature, and
local communities play a crucial role in the conservation of such ecosystems.