Impact of violent conflicts and environmental hazards on pastoral sustainable development in Punjab, Pakistan

Pastoralism is mostly related to specific ethnic group or group of people whose livelihoods generally depend on production of livestock in the rangelands. Pastoralists’ livelihood regarding livestock is hastily becoming indefensible due to mounting pressure of population growth on rangelands and desertification of vast rangeland, the reason for severe climate change. This study attempted to investigate the impact of violent conflicts and environmental hazards on sustainability of pastoral in Punjab, Pakistan. Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur districts of southern Punjab due to significant contribution in livestock and grazing rangeland locations were purposively selected for this study. This research work used the data of 840 pastoralists’ and employed instrumental variable regression model for empirical estimation of the study. Estimates of the study indicated livestock holding negatively influenced from violent conflicts and environmental hazards as this effect can initiate without any exception of livestock holding size. Finding also highlighted pastoralists significant welfare indicators such as income and expenses were negatively influenced due to livestock losses. Pastoralist’s livelihood sustainability is feasible by overcoming such negative impacts of violent conflicts and environmental hazards. There is need to sure pastoralists’ community sustainability by priority focusing on environment sustainable agenda not only internationally but also on national and regional levels. More particularly, implementation proper policy measures regarding climate change coping strategies, controlling violent conflicts, land management and managing programs for reducing poverty more specifically for pastoralist’s rangeland households is needed.