Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LIX
Written by Sezen OCAK, Sinan OGUN, Onur YILMAZ
Transhumance is a resource efficient means of livestock production by seasonally moving grazing animals to utilize pastures between varying ecological zones. This article investigated two separate transhumant societies in Romania and Turkey, countries that resemble cultural and environmental likeness. The data for the Turkish component of this study was collected in 2015 by interviewing Turkish transhumant populations during their migration route through the Taurus mountains. Romanian data for the Carpathian Transhumant came from personal communications with Romanian authors and also from Romanian and English written sources. Both nations possess rare natural environments with high nature conservation value open grassland habitats that benefit from traditional, low-impact agriculture of the transhumance. After a millennia of practicing conservation and natural resource management skills it is a lifestyle that is all but lost. Ecosystem services provided by the Romanian and Turkish transhumant family farming systems include preservation of biodiversity, providing substantial carbon sinks and reduction of CO2 emissions assisting to mitigate climate change. The system also maintains erosion control, improves soil quality and deters the likelihood of forest fires, whilst weaving a resilient social web. The survey also indicated a clear link between social and ecological resilience emphasizing that sustainable development relies on the interconnectedness between biological and cultural diversity and as such they merit strong policy recognition and support. The economic, social and environmental costs of losing them would far outweigh the costs of support. To loose this animal production system with its rich cultural heritage would be a tragic deficit for both biological and cultural conservation.
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