P. Ericksen, J. de Leeuw, P. Thornton, A. Ayantunde, M. Said, M. Herrero and A. Notenbaert
International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya and Bamako, Mali

Introduction Managing climate variability and climate risk is at the heart of pastoralism. Both traditional nomadic or mobile pastoralism and mixed or agro-pastoral systems have been supreme adaptations to cycles of drought, floods and “normal” rainfall years, most often in areas that do not receive more than 600 mm rainfall annually and more often make do with 200 to 300 mm. Pastoral herders balance herd size, species and breed composition, grazing patterns as well as other livelihood options with an eye to managing climatic risk, even if other risks such as social, economic or conflict are more immediate. Decisions to crop in wet years or areas are also in part influenced by climate variability. The consequences and implications of 21st century global warming and the resulting changes in climatic patterns that will occur are therefore of paramount importance to pastoral livelihoods, productions systems and landscapes. Adaptation choices made now will have implications for the coming decades, as climate change unfolds and pastoral communities continue to transform.