Validation of Traditional Pastoralist Practices Based on Ecological Observations of a Camel Herding Community and Coastal Mangrove Forests of Kutch, Gujarat, India

The livelihoods of pastoralists in coastal regions of western India are sustained mainly through rearing indigenous Kharai camels, which rely on mangrove leaves as a primary food source. Remote sensing monitoring data for these mangrove forests between 1988 and 2020 provide evidence that traditional pastoral practices support sustainable mangrove growth, rather than inflicting damage. It remains unclear whether current laws restricting access to these mangrove forests for conservation purposes are necessary; indeed, they may have negative impacts on biodiversity and the coexistence of traditional pastoralists and mangroves.