Nineteenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to assess how far pastoral land tenure system has impacted environmental resource governance and sustainability along the Ethiopia-Kenya border. The study employs a qualitative method in which key informant interviews, in-depth interviews, focus group discussion and field observation are utilized as primary data collection methods; moreover, legal documents are assessed. The study found that in both states, government laws and policies adopted have not taken into account the pastoral way of life. The pastoral landholding system is customary which is referred to as communal ownership influenced by states interest for private investment, fencing for ranching, parks and recreation services have accounted for pastoral limited access to their land. Moreover, research informants in the interview and focus group discussion expressed that the communal land tenure system has denied security for the pastoralists that accounted for land fragmentation and other challenges such as resource competition induced conflict and environmental resource degradation. This study argues for pastoral communal ownership of land should be recognized and implemented in which the state becomes the steward. This helps to enhance pastoral land productivity and to safeguard rangeland environmental resources from degradation. It is vital that pastoral policies should accommodate pastoral felt needs and interests in which the voices of pastoralists are heard in policy making process hence a special representation of pastoral people in the regional and federal legislature (in Ethiopia) and central government parliament (in Kenya), there should be a supportive intervention that protects pastoral land rights.