
Yaghnob Valley: Pasture Assessments in Tajikistan
| February 4th, 2025 | News
The Yaghnob Valley in Tajikistan is a vital area where pastoral farming plays a significant role in the livelihoods of local communities. However, in recent years the valley has faced serious challenges, including overgrazing, the lack of pasture management, and feeling the impacts of climate change, all of which have led to land degradation.
As part of the CAMCA project, experts from CAMP Tabiat assessed grazing pressure on the pastures of the Yaghnob Valley, located in the Ayni district of the Sughd region. This assessment used extensive field studies to both identify problems faced by pasture users and to develop recommendations to improve pasture conditions. In addition to the field studies, discussions were held with the head of the Yaghnob National Nature Park, Niyoz Karimov, and park staff about pasture management, the development of grazing management plans, rotational grazing schedules, and the regulation of acceptable livestock numbers for sustainable grazing.
Findings from the field highlighted several critical issues. Southern areas of the valley were found to be the most vulnerable, with vegetation cover severely degraded due to excessive grazing pressure. Livestock from neighbouring regions, such as Zafarabad and Mastchoh districts of Sughd region and other nearby areas, together with climate change, characterised by increasingly unpredictable rainfall and rising temperatures, appears to be accelerating the degradation of the ecosystem. A geobotanist was engaged to gain more insight into the causes of rangeland degradation and to provide recommendations that are more specific.
More in depth, geobotanical studies were conducted on eight research plots in several locations in the valley, each with a different aspect (slope orientation). Most of these plots were used as hayfields and their vegetation was relatively uniform, although productivity varied due to differences in the dominance of leguminous plants, which increased forage yield. The analysis identified forage, non-forage, medicinal, poisonous, and invasive plant species. Areas close to settlements and used mainly for haymaking were found to have a rich composition of fodder plants. However, in areas of heavy grazing, the presence of tarragon – a key indicator of degraded pastures – had increased significantly. The spread of the poisonous Zeravshan spurge was also noted, indicating overgrazing in certain areas. Spring-autumn pastures dominated by Artemisia tenuisecta remain important, with ephemeral plants playing a critical role in the spring food balance, while autumn grazing relies mainly on wormwood.
The assessment shows that overgrazing is the main cause of pasture degradation in the Yaghnob Valley. Livestock numbers consistently exceed the carrying capacity of the pastures, leading to deterioration of vegetation cover and soil quality. In addition, the lack of comprehensive pasture management plans has led to unsustainable practices, while climate change has accelerated the degradation process. The study also highlighted the need to conserve the valley’s biodiversity, which includes numerous endemic plant species and rare wildlife.
To address these challenges, the assessment team also suggested several key recommendations for park staff. These include developing integrated pasture management plans that consider carrying capacity, vegetation characteristics and climatic conditions; implementing rotational grazing to facilitate recovery; and establishing monitoring systems to track vegetation health, grazing impacts, and management effectiveness. To encourage cooperation and compliance with these measures, it is essential to raise awareness among local communities about sustainable grazing practices and their long-term benefits.
The conclusions and recommendations of this assessment provides a clear path towards restore rangelands, enhancing biodiversity, and supporting the socio-economic development of local communities in the Yaghnob Valley. The success of these efforts will depend on further research into biodiversity, the effects of climate change, and sustainable management models that are appropriate for the local context.
CAMP Tabiat is a public organization founded in 2014 with a mission to promote sustainable development of mountain regions in Tajikistan and make a positive contribution to improving the living standards of its rural population. CAMP Tabiat will be getting a new website soon – stay tuned!