Afforestation-induced grazing restrictions undermine pastoral livelihoods and trigger socioecological shifts in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

Using focus group discussions and participant observations in nine villages of pastoralist communities in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region of Pakistan, this study analyzed the perceived impacts of large-scale afforestation programs on the livelihood of grazing communities, and the strategies they adopted in response to forest enclosures. The grazing restrictions severely reduced green forage availability and access, undermining the sustainability of pastoral-based livelihoods. Pastoralists reported an overall reduction in livestock and animal-based products due to frequent sell-off of animals, abandonment of pastoralism, and animal deaths caused by fodder shortages. Consequently, milk and meat prices have increased manyfold in the study region. To cope with the fodder shortage, pastoralists adopted various strategies such as migration, crop-livestock integration, use of alternate routes, and climate-smart agroforestry systems (e.g., communal plantations). The adoption of a particular strategy was influenced by household and community characteristics, including herd size, ownership of pasture and agricultural land, and household size. Despite these efforts, livestock-based livelihoods continue to weaken, threatening food security. Communities suggested several feasible solutions to the government, including the creation of buffer zones for grazing, allowing grazing in areas with low regeneration and high grass density, providing incentives to herders, establishing information centers under the Billion Tree Afforestation Project, and creating a separate livestock department. Based on this case study, we recommend that the state involve local pastoralists in co-designing nature-based conservation plans.