Indigenous Environmental Knowledge of Borana Pastoralists

Abstract The study intends to assess the indigenous environmental knowledge (IEK) of Borana pastoralists in Dhas district of Borana zone in southern Ethiopia. To attain the study objective qualitative research design was employed as it helps researcher to obtain a full pictures and facts about the IEK of Borana pastoralists to build a holistic picture, analyze narratives, and to conducts the study in the natural settings of the participants through the use of methods such as key informant interview, focus group discussion (FGD) and direct observation. To select participants for key informant interview and FGD, snowball sampling was used to pinpoint people who have insights into IEK of Borana pastoralists. Results show that the customary practices of Borana pastoralists that linked to multi-dimensional natural resources management (NRM) include the taxonomy of pastureland and water resources instituted on the season of utility and gazing dimensions, range scouts, herd splitting, cattle mobility, herd diversification, and bush burning. However, currently owing to various factors the IEKs of Borana pastoralists have been facing threatening challenges that question their existence. The study incorporated the capitalization on the customary institutions that advance the IEK and cattle productivity finally improving the livelihoods of the Borana pastoralists. This research intends to help various stakeholders, predominantly pastoralist development office, ecologists and other development partners in a bid to develop Borana pastoralists, to boost their sustainability, and to promote sustainable NRM.