A study on the management of pastoral resources in the Sahel-Saharian belt in Mali was initiated in 2008 by two DCG-members, Care and OMADEZA, as part of DCGs work towards contributing to strengthening access to natural resources for vulnerable households by promoting and facilitating dialogue between different stakeholders in the drylands.
The continuous shrinkage of water resources and grazing lands, combined with an increasing human population and livestock numbers in certain areas of Mali, have led to strong pressure on natural resources. This has gradually affected negatively the coexistence between agricultural activities and livestock rearing. The objective of the study is to contribute to ensuring improved food security for mobile pastoral households as well as sedentary farmers through the reduction of pressure on natural resources and related conflicts. The study will be finalized in 2010, but in 2009 some results of the projects had already become visible. Due to a series of consultations with pastoralists, shepherds, sedentary farmers and the local community councils, on how to manage the common resources in the area, the level of conflict between these groups have decreased. The director of one of the implementing organization reports:
“Through this study, people have talked with each other, and through talking they have begun to understand each other. Consequently, everyone has started to respect what was said during the meetings. The first actual impact of the project has therefore been the advent of peace in an area where each month we could identify at least four conflicts with serious injuries and death (mostly shepherds being killed by farmers)”.