How to think like a pastoralist
In a recent feature, Tufts Now spotlights pastoralism as a dynamic, knowledge-rich system that holds valuable lessons about resilience and sustainability.
Drawing on insights from Feinstein Research Director Elizabeth Stites and Evan Griffith, the piece explores how pastoralists across Africa, the Middle East, and beyond convert fragile landscapes into food security, social protection, and environmental stewardship.
From reading animal behavior and weather patterns with remarkable precision to enforcing community rules that protect vital ecosystems, pastoralists demonstrate adaptive strategies refined over centuries.
As the United Nations has declared 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, the article highlights pastoralism’s relevance to global discussions on cooperation, sustainability, and living with uncertainty in a climate-disrupted world.
