Nuer Pastoralists’ Perception and Ecological Knowledge on Seasonal Dynamics in Botanical Composition and Nutritive Value of Vegetation, and Soil Nutrient Status of Gambella Rangelands, Southwestern Ethiopia

Ketema Tilahun Gelaye, Ashenafi Mengistu, Solomon Mengistu

Abstract


This study was aimed at investigating perception and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) of Nuer pastoralists regarding seasonal dynamics in the botanical composition and nutritive value of the vegetation, and soil nutrient status of the rangelands in Gambella, southwestern Ethiopia. The study was conducted between April and May 2014 in Itang and Jikawo districts. A structured questionnaire was employed to assess the perception of a total of 120 respondents. The general outcome was that the pastoralists have an in- depth knowledge and experience regarding the changes that the rangeland ecosystem has undergone. They have perceived rainfall variability as the principal factor that causes seasonal dynamism in the rangeland ecosystem. Nuer herders identified a total of 16 herbaceous and 5 woody species as the dominant forage and browse species, respectively, distributed over the seasonal grazing areas. They perceived that there is seasonal dynamics in botanical composition of the herbaceous layer but such dynamism was not a phenomenon for the woody layer. The herders ranked top eight and top four forage species which are highly desirable during the wet season and the dry season respectively. The pastoralists also ranked the top five highly desirable evergreen browse species. They perceived there exists seasonal dynamism in the nutritive value of the valuable herbaceous and browse species composition of the rangeland vegetation. The herders were able to classify the range soil on the basis of its physical characteristics such as color, texture, fertility and drainage levels. They perceived that soil nutrient status was closely associated with the vegetation and its seasonal dynamism in the entire grazing area. Generally, the study revealed that pastoralists have considerable traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and experience in dealing with ecosystem dynamism indicating that such knowledge and experience is believed to have profound importance for possible integration into scientific principles and practices of sound rangeland management system.

 


Keywords


herbaceous layer, perceived acceptability; seasonal grazing areas, soil, traditional ecological knowledge, woody layer

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