Regional environmental simulation of African cattle herding societies
Regional analyses of the interaction between human populations and natural resources must integrate landscape scale environmental problems. An approach that considers human culture, environmental processes, and resource needs offers an appropriate methodology. With this methodology, we analyze problems of food availability in African cattle-keeping societies. The analysis interrelates cattle biomass, forage availability, milk and blood production, crop yields, gathering, food subsidies, population, and variable precipitation. While an excess of cattle leads to overgrazing, cattle also serve as valuable food storage mechanisms during low rainfall periods. Food subsidies support higher population levels but do not alter drought-induced population fluctuations. Variable precipitation patterns require solutions that stabilize year-to-year food production and also address problems of overpopulation.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge, TN
- OSTI ID:
- 6964919
- Journal Information:
- Hum. Ecol.; (United States), Vol. 14:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
AFRICA
ARID LANDS
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
CATTLE
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
FORAGE
POPULATION DYNAMICS
FOOD
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
HUMAN POPULATIONS
AGRICULTURE
AVAILABILITY
CROPS
DROUGHTS
GRAZING
RANGELANDS
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
ANIMAL FEEDS
ANIMALS
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
ECOSYSTEMS
INDUSTRY
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
MAMMALS
PLANTS
POPULATIONS
RUMINANTS
VERTEBRATES
290400* - Energy Planning & Policy- Energy Resources
290200 - Energy Planning & Policy- Economics & Sociology