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http://www.faoswalim.org/resources/Land/Environmental_Study_Degradation_Sool_Plateau_and_Gebi.pdf
2. The Collapse of Range-management Systems
From the literature review it is clear that anthropogenic range degradation is linked to changes in settlement, grazing patterns and land use promoted by the introduction of new permanent water sources (boreholes, permanent wells) and water storage technologies (houses and
underground berkeds).
Historically, the plateau was used as a wet-season grazing area due to its low water table and lack of permanent water sources. However, the increasing number of livestock and people over the last decades has led to the proliferation of berkeds and an increase in water availability. The increasing population has clustered into villages where public agencies have drilled new boreholes to support additional people and animals. These developments and the proliferation of berkeds have converted the Sool Plateau into a year- round grazing area and attracted a relatively higher concentration of livestock, mainly camels and shoats (FSAU Food Security Report, September 2002).
2.1. Water Development and Settlements
In Sanaag region, the areas of influence of the three main Warsangeli communities encompassed different ecological zones used as seasonal grazing areas: Guban coastal areas; the Al Madow (Golis) and Karkar Mountains; and the Gebi Valley and the Sool Plateau (including Xadeed). Guban and Al-Madow/Karkar were used for dry-season grazing and the Gebi Valley and the Sool Plateau for wet-season grazing. However, according to local communities, prior to colonialism, the Gebi Valley used to be a reserved grazing area:
“We had a traditional technique for range conservation. For centuries, the sultans of the Warsangeli used to protect the grasslands of the Gebi Valley. They were reserved grazing (seere) to preserve grazing for dry seasons and droughts. In Gu, when the rains came, we used to go and graze in Sool Plateau (Ogo and Xadeed) first to allow the grass of the Gebi Valley to grow and then come to the plains in the Gebi Valley. The British and the Somali governments maintained the system, which collapsed after the fall of Siyad Barre” (Hadaaftimo).
“In the old days, we had law and order. We, the Warsangeli, used to go far away from the Gebi Valley and from the permanent water sources (springs6, permanent wells and Laaso in riverbeds7) in rainy seasons and come back in dry seasons. The rule changed. The government of Somalia reduced the power of the Sultan, allowed permanent settlement for political reasons and drilled boreholes in the Sool Plateau” (Ceel-Buh).
“The Sool Plateau near Sarmaanyo was a thick waterless woodland, good for grazing and drought resistant. There were a lot of antelopes. Dhulbahante people use to migrate here from their permanent water points in the Nugaal Valley”8(Sarmaanyo)
Absolutely heart breaking.
The result of this has been devastating:
Imagine how worse things are now in 2017 if these changes occurred between 1988-2003. I don’t know how much longer the land can last.
2. The Collapse of Range-management Systems
From the literature review it is clear that anthropogenic range degradation is linked to changes in settlement, grazing patterns and land use promoted by the introduction of new permanent water sources (boreholes, permanent wells) and water storage technologies (houses and
underground berkeds).
Historically, the plateau was used as a wet-season grazing area due to its low water table and lack of permanent water sources. However, the increasing number of livestock and people over the last decades has led to the proliferation of berkeds and an increase in water availability. The increasing population has clustered into villages where public agencies have drilled new boreholes to support additional people and animals. These developments and the proliferation of berkeds have converted the Sool Plateau into a year- round grazing area and attracted a relatively higher concentration of livestock, mainly camels and shoats (FSAU Food Security Report, September 2002).
2.1. Water Development and Settlements
In Sanaag region, the areas of influence of the three main Warsangeli communities encompassed different ecological zones used as seasonal grazing areas: Guban coastal areas; the Al Madow (Golis) and Karkar Mountains; and the Gebi Valley and the Sool Plateau (including Xadeed). Guban and Al-Madow/Karkar were used for dry-season grazing and the Gebi Valley and the Sool Plateau for wet-season grazing. However, according to local communities, prior to colonialism, the Gebi Valley used to be a reserved grazing area:
“We had a traditional technique for range conservation. For centuries, the sultans of the Warsangeli used to protect the grasslands of the Gebi Valley. They were reserved grazing (seere) to preserve grazing for dry seasons and droughts. In Gu, when the rains came, we used to go and graze in Sool Plateau (Ogo and Xadeed) first to allow the grass of the Gebi Valley to grow and then come to the plains in the Gebi Valley. The British and the Somali governments maintained the system, which collapsed after the fall of Siyad Barre” (Hadaaftimo).
“In the old days, we had law and order. We, the Warsangeli, used to go far away from the Gebi Valley and from the permanent water sources (springs6, permanent wells and Laaso in riverbeds7) in rainy seasons and come back in dry seasons. The rule changed. The government of Somalia reduced the power of the Sultan, allowed permanent settlement for political reasons and drilled boreholes in the Sool Plateau” (Ceel-Buh).
“The Sool Plateau near Sarmaanyo was a thick waterless woodland, good for grazing and drought resistant. There were a lot of antelopes. Dhulbahante people use to migrate here from their permanent water points in the Nugaal Valley”8(Sarmaanyo)
Absolutely heart breaking.
The result of this has been devastating:
Imagine how worse things are now in 2017 if these changes occurred between 1988-2003. I don’t know how much longer the land can last.
