Grazing disputes in Kyrgyzstan reveal pasture access concerns for herders
Thursday, July 2, 2020 - 09:20
in Earth & Climate
In early June, livestock herders from two neighboring districts in Kyrgyzstan's Naryn oblast, or administrative region, clashed over disagreements regarding pasture access. Grazing disputes are not new, however, for herders in Kyrgyzstan, where glaciers in the Tien Shan mountains supply water for the herds which graze on the lush meadows of the country's highlands. Pastoralism is a long-held tradition in this Central Asian country, but it is becoming increasingly complicated by economic, environmental, and governance issues.