Between 15 and 20 June, WAMIP members took part in a six-day event in Kyrgyzstan as part of the UNCCD Silk Road Caravan initiative. The caravan aims to promote dialogue on topics such as pastoral resource management and use, climate change adaptation, nature-based solutions, and the role of traditional knowledge in pastoralism.
In Kyrgyzstan, pastoralism is an ancient tradition in which herders practise seasonal vertical transhumance. During the summer, families migrate with their livestock (sheep, goats, cows, horses and yaks) to high-altitude mountain pastures known as jailoos, and return to lower elevations for the winter.
The event showcased this traditional activity in the context of the Silk Road Caravan and promoted dialogue among local pastoralists and visitors from other countries. A field trip was organised to a jailoo in the Chui region’s Issyk-Ata district to observe pasture landscapes and demonstration sites for nature-based solutions. Livestock breeders and elders explained how they use pastures and seasonal mobility, how they interpret climate signals and weather patterns, and how they manage water resources. Participants also travelled to the Issyk-Kul region in the Ton district, where they shared knowledge with women and young people about traditional technologies, types of crafts, traditional livestock heritage, music, and storytelling.
WAMIP members shared their experiences. Bhavana Desai (Maldhari Rural Action Group, International Land Coalition) highlighted similarities with her own country in terms of livestock, food, the challenges faced, and the use of traditional knowledge for artificial glaciers to maintain grasslands and manage water.
Tezera Getahun (Pastoralist Forum Ethiopia, International Land Coalition) said that he had learned from this experience that some entrepreneurs were using traditional medicines to produce export-quality products in order to support their livelihoods.
WAMIP is joining the movement in the lead-up to COP17 to advocate for the visibility and rights of pastoralists.
