What is transhumance?

Transhumance is the seasonal movement of livestock and people between fixed summer and winter pastures. This traditional practice is common in many pastoral societies around the world, as it allows animals to graze on fresh vegetation and avoid overgrazing in one area. Transhumance is often practiced in mountainous regions where the climate and availability of forage change with the seasons.

Transhumance is a seasonal movement of people and their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures. It is a traditional form of pastoralism that has been practiced for centuries in many parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Transhumance is typically carried out in mountainous areas, where the climate varies significantly between summer and winter. In the summer, herders and their livestock move to high-altitude pastures, where the grass is lush and abundant. In the winter, they move to lower-altitude pastures, where the weather is milder and there is more shelter.

Transhumance is a complex and demanding way of life, but it also has many benefits. It allows herders to make use of both high-altitude and low-altitude pastures, which provides their livestock with a varied diet and helps to keep them healthy. Transhumance also helps to maintain the biodiversity of mountainous areas, as it prevents the overgrazing of any one pasture.

In recent years, transhumance has become increasingly difficult due to a number of factors, including changing climate patterns, land-use changes, and the decline of traditional herding practices. However, it remains an important part of the cultural and economic life of many mountain communities.