Grasslands of the World.pdf - Disasters and Conflicts - UNEP

J.M. SUTTIE
Other grasslands 449
• Temperate – Alpine grasslands are found above 2 100 m and include the temperate
and cold arid areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar
Pradesh, West Bengal and the northeastern states.
The transhumant system is prevalent in the Himalayan region. However,
this system still exists in some states situated in the plains, such as Rajasthan
(which abuts on similar desert zones of Pakistan ), Madhya Pradesh, Tamil
Nadu, Gujrat and Uttar Pradesh.
The rural system involves free grazing on community grazing lands and
forests, supplemented with green fodder cultivated in the farmer’s fields .
During lean periods, such as summer and autumn , tree leaf fodder is also
used. These monsoon grasslands are only productive during the rainy season,
and the dry season is long and severe; their feeding quality, like that of
all grasslands with marked wet and dry seasons, is mediocre when they are
young and poor thereafter.
Pakistan
The Himalayan lands have been described above. In the arid regions of
Pakistan (Dost, 1998) complexity, variability and uncertainty characterize the
grazing systems . Livestock grazing practices in the Thal, Cholistan, Kohistan
and Tharparkar desert areas are similar. In early winter , people leave their
villages in search of better grazing and migrate into irrigated areas. In the early
monsoon season, when forage is abundant, during July–November, they return
to their villages and leave their animals to graze. Private livestock are allowed to
Plate 11.26
Sheep grazing stubble , with Acacia nilotica on field edges, in the Punjab,
Pakistan .