Ecological Foundations of Indigenous Pastoral Innovations for Climate Resilience: Evidence from the Succulent Karoo Rangeland, Richtersveld National Park, South Africa

Martha Muthoni Konje · 2026 · AgroEnvironmental Sustainability

Summary. Indigenous Nama herders in South Africa's Richtersveld National Park practice transhumance between upland and riparian zones, moving livestock seasonally to access forage. This study measured vegetation biomass, rainfall, and productivity across five habitat types from 2006–2008. Results show rainfall drives forage availability, with riparian grasslands providing 600–700 g/m² during dry months when uplands are dormant. The system maintains year-round forage under current management, validating pastoral practices that policymakers had dismissed as merely traditional rather than ecologically adaptive.

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@article{konje-2026-ecological-foundations-indigenous-pastoral-innovations,
  title   = {Ecological Foundations of Indigenous Pastoral Innovations for Climate Resilience: Evidence from the Succulent Karoo Rangeland, Richtersveld National Park, South Africa},
  author  = {Martha Muthoni Konje},
  journal = {AgroEnvironmental Sustainability},
  year    = {2026},
  doi     = {10.59983/s2026040209},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.59983/s2026040209}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Ecological Foundations of Indigenous Pastoral Innovations for Climate Resilience: Evidence from the Succulent Karoo Rangeland, Richtersveld National Park, South Africa
AU  - Martha Muthoni Konje
JO  - AgroEnvironmental Sustainability
PY  - 2026
DO  - 10.59983/s2026040209
UR  - https://doi.org/10.59983/s2026040209
ER  - 

Details

DOI

10.59983/s2026040209

Countries

South Africa

Regions

Africa

Categories

indigenous-innovation, climate-and-environment, food-systems, general-innovation

Added

2026-10-01