The Federal Government and partners have been urged to take decisive action to protect and restore rangelands, safeguard pastoralist communities’ livelihoods, and enhance climate resilience in dryland regions.
The call was made in a communiqué issued at the conclusion of the 5th International Conference on Drylands.
The conference, themed “Promoting Sustainability and Resilience of Rangelands: Present and Future Outlooks”, was organised by the Centre for Dryland Agriculture at Bayero University in Kano and took place from May 6 to 8, 2025.
The three-day conference brought together over 300 participants, including scientists, researchers, policymakers, development partners, and private sector representatives.
The participants urged governments to develop and implement comprehensive, participatory, and evidence-based legal frameworks prioritising sustainable rangeland management.
These frameworks should recognise, protect, and support traditional knowledge and practices of pastoralists, ensuring equitable access to land and natural resources.
Secure land tenure and fair resource governance are crucial for promoting peaceful coexistence and preventing land-use conflicts.
The conference recognised the critical role of women and youths from pastoralist communities in driving resilience and sustainability.
The conference also called for increased investment in capacity building, active participation in decision-making processes, and support for income-generating opportunities and sustainable resource development projects.
The conference emphasised the need to scale up public and private sector investments in climate change adaptation strategies, sustainable land management technologies, and diversified livelihood initiatives.
These investments should be complemented by demand-driven research and the promotion of innovations that integrate indigenous knowledge with modern scientific approaches.
The conference urged international development partners and organisations to align their resources with the conference outcomes and enhance regional and global cooperation, particularly on transboundary issues.
The participants also advocated deeper engagement with global initiatives such as the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) and the Africa Soil Initiative.
The conference concluded that the alarming degradation of rangelands, threats to pastoralist livelihoods, and fragility of dryland ecosystems demand urgent, collaborative, and sustained action.
The participants emphasised that achieving healthy rangelands was key to food security, ecological balance, and peaceful coexistence.
The conference brought together participants from 11 African countries, 13 Nigerian states, 17 academic institutions, and several international organisations.
It created a rich platform for knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, and regional collaboration.
By Aminu Garko