Livestock grazing is the dominant land use on earth and therefore the most important thing to get right if we want to address biodiversity loss and desertification. This is especially true in Africa where livestock interact with nearly half the land surface and in many cases are slowly degrading it. When the land declines, it is not only soil that is lost but also the livelihoods, cultures and futures of the people who depend on it.

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If livestock management holds the key to reversing desertification and biodiversity loss and unlocking wealth for rural economies, then herding cultures in all their forms must be at the centre of that change. This includes pastoralists, ranchers, herders and every community whose lives are interwoven with grazing animals.

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Nomadic pastoralists were the original practitioners of regenerative grazing long before the term existed. Since the first domestication of livestock, they worked with wild open landscapes. They shared land with wildlife, moved with the seasons, and understood that staying in one place too long destroys grasslands, livestock and people. Without government plans, NGO support or scientific tools they built intricate systems of movement and observation that protected rangelands for generations.

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Their connection to livestock and land runs deeper than most outsiders realise. It is economic, cultural, spiritual and personal. When you see people living from their animals, sharing milk and blood, defending them from predators and raiders, and making every decision through the lens of land and herd health, you begin to understand how powerful that relationship is.

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Modern regenerative ranchers have taken the lessons from herding cultures and applied them in their own commercial contexts. With fewer constraints than communal systems, they have been able to push the boundaries of what is possible. Ultra high density grazing using simple portable fencing has driven a quiet revolution in land management, allowing livestock impact to be applied with far greater control and ecological benefit. At the same time, breeders have evolved indigenous breeds not for maximum production at all costs, but for the functional traits required for land improvement and profitability per acre. This combination of intentional grazing and purposeful breeding has shown that commercial success and ecological health can grow together, not in opposition.

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The passion, courage and innovation found in both pastoralists and ranchers is one of the most important forces we have for restoring the world’s grasslands. As grasslands die, these cultures will die with them. There is no greater call to action than this: to support all herding peoples in protecting their lands, their livestock and their way of life, because the health of the planet depends on it far more than we realise. 

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Instead of treating herding cultures as a problem to be managed, we believe they hold many of the answers. Their knowledge, skill and deep sense of responsibility for land and livestock must be recognised, respected and placed at the centre of any serious effort to restore rangelands and build lasting resilience.

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The cattle breeds they have shaped through generations of harsh natural selection carry the exact traits modern agriculture desperately needs. Regenerative grazing requires animals that are resilient, mobile, calm, adaptable and able to thrive on natural forage while driving ecosystem recovery. These traits come from pastoralist genetics, not from industrial breeding systems. It is time that value is fully recognised.

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But in a rapidly changing world we cannot rely on tradition alone. We need to honour and learn from it while embracing the tools, technology and knowledge now available.

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At True Range we have been fortunate to learn from both worlds. We have worked with leading regenerative ranchers running commercial enterprises and with pastoralists whose experience is measured in generations. We believe the future lies in this blend of tradition and innovation, based on local wisdom yet equipped for modern realities.

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This is the foundation of our work, and everything what we stand for. It is why we believe livestock, when managed with respect for both people and ecology, can regenerate land, regenerate livelihoods - and regenerate hope.

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