Ebook: Rangeland Stewardship in Central Asia: Balancing Improved Livelihoods, Biodiversity Conservation and Land Protection

This volume of 18 chapters is the work of more than 30 authors, many of whom are natives of the Central Asian region or are researchers who have dedicated a large part of their working lives to studying the development dynamics in this vast and fascinating region. The work focuses on the 20 years since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990. But it also traces the attitudes of land users to the land dating from before the late 19^th century, when Russian conquest and colonization occurred, and through the upheavals caused by Soviet-style collectivization and sedentarization. The book is rich with new data presented in 68 easy to understand charts/graphs (many in color) and 50 Tables. Information was generated for this book by experts working in-country. It presents for the first time in English a digest of plethora of previously inaccessible Russian reports and scientific literature that will be invaluable for development agencies, including UN, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Bank as well as to students of this vast and fascinating region who seek up to date and authoritive information.

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This volume of 18 chapters is the work of more than 30 authors, many of whom are natives of the Central Asian region or are researchers who have dedicated a large part of their working lives to studying the dynamics of people, livestock and climate (both physical and socio-political) in this vast and fascinating region. The work focuses on the 20 years since most of the countries in the region received independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990. But it also traces the attitudes of land users to the land dating from the before late 19^th century, when Russian conquest and colonization occurred, and through the upheavals caused by Soviet-style collectivization and sedentarization. De-collectivization has created its own dilemmas, not the least of which are those related to land tenure and access rights to grazing lands and these are discussed in the context of land stewardship.
The Central Asian region is huge and very diverse in agro-ecologies and production systems. Even though the countries are now moving into different directions of overall and policy development, the fundamental issues of sustainable agricultural development remain common for all countries of the region. Better land stewardship is a foundation for this strategic approach.
The book is rich with new data presented in 68 easy to understand charts/graphs (many in color) and 50 Tables. Much of the information is new and was generated for this book by experts working in-country. It presents for the first time in English a digest of a plethora of previously inaccessible Russian reports and scientific literature that will be invaluable for development agencies, including UN, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Bank as well as to students of this vast and fascinating region who seek up to date and authoritive information.

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This volume of 18 chapters is the work of more than 30 authors, many of whom are natives of the Central Asian region or are researchers who have dedicated a large part of their working lives to studying the dynamics of people, livestock and climate (both physical and socio-political) in this vast and fascinating region. The work focuses on the 20 years since most of the countries in the region received independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990. But it also traces the attitudes of land users to the land dating from the before late 19^th century, when Russian conquest and colonization occurred, and through the upheavals caused by Soviet-style collectivization and sedentarization. De-collectivization has created its own dilemmas, not the least of which are those related to land tenure and access rights to grazing lands and these are discussed in the context of land stewardship.
The Central Asian region is huge and very diverse in agro-ecologies and production systems. Even though the countries are now moving into different directions of overall and policy development, the fundamental issues of sustainable agricultural development remain common for all countries of the region. Better land stewardship is a foundation for this strategic approach.
The book is rich with new data presented in 68 easy to understand charts/graphs (many in color) and 50 Tables. Much of the information is new and was generated for this book by experts working in-country. It presents for the first time in English a digest of a plethora of previously inaccessible Russian reports and scientific literature that will be invaluable for development agencies, including UN, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Bank as well as to students of this vast and fascinating region who seek up to date and authoritive information.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxxv
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Setting the Stage: Key Features of the Present-Day Central Asian Region: An Introduction to the Wider Historical, Social, Political, Economic, Cultural, and Ecologic Contexts of the Region in a Nutshell....Pages 3-29
Better Land Stewardship: An Economic and Environmental Imperative, If There Is to Be Sustainable Development....Pages 31-50
Evolution of Land Use in Pastoral Culture in Central Asia with Special Reference to Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan....Pages 51-67
Front Matter....Pages 69-69
Land Stewardship in Practice: An Example from the Eastern Pamirs of Tajikistan....Pages 71-90
Better Land Stewardship to Avert Poverty and Land Degradation: A Viewpoint from Afghanistan....Pages 91-108
Extensive Livestock Production: Afghanistan’s Kuchi Herders, Risks to and Strategies for Their Survival....Pages 109-127
Constraints and Barriers to Better Land Stewardship: Analysis of PRAs in Tajikistan....Pages 129-161
Front Matter....Pages 163-163
Rural Livelihoods in Tajikistan: What Factors and Policies Influence the Income and Well-Being of Rural Families?....Pages 165-187
The Feed-Livestock Nexus: Livestock Development Policy in Tajikistan....Pages 189-212
Rangeland-Based Livestock: A Vital Subsector Under Threat in Tajikistan....Pages 213-235
Front Matter....Pages 237-237
Pastoral Tenure in Central Asia: Theme and Variation in the Five Former Soviet Republics....Pages 239-274
Governance and the Role of Institutions in Sustainable Development in the Central Asian Region....Pages 275-303
Land Tenure Reform in Tajikistan: Implications for Land Stewardship and Social Sustainability: A Case Study....Pages 305-329
Front Matter....Pages 331-331
Engaging with Land Users: The First Steps on a Long Road....Pages 333-356
Fostering Community-Based Stewardship of Wildlife in Central Asia: Transforming Snow Leopards from Pests into Valued Assets....Pages 357-380
Participatory Management of Desert Rangelands to Improve Food Security and Sustain the Natural Resource Base in Uzbekistan....Pages 381-404
Front Matter....Pages 405-405
International Perspectives on Legislative and Administrative Reforms as an Aid to Better Land Stewardship....Pages 407-429
Conclusions and a Way Forward....Pages 431-448
Back Matter....Pages 449-458

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This volume of 18 chapters is the work of more than 30 authors, many of whom are natives of the Central Asian region or are researchers who have dedicated a large part of their working lives to studying the dynamics of people, livestock and climate (both physical and socio-political) in this vast and fascinating region. The work focuses on the 20 years since most of the countries in the region received independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990. But it also traces the attitudes of land users to the land dating from the before late 19^th century, when Russian conquest and colonization occurred, and through the upheavals caused by Soviet-style collectivization and sedentarization. De-collectivization has created its own dilemmas, not the least of which are those related to land tenure and access rights to grazing lands and these are discussed in the context of land stewardship.
The Central Asian region is huge and very diverse in agro-ecologies and production systems. Even though the countries are now moving into different directions of overall and policy development, the fundamental issues of sustainable agricultural development remain common for all countries of the region. Better land stewardship is a foundation for this strategic approach.
The book is rich with new data presented in 68 easy to understand charts/graphs (many in color) and 50 Tables. Much of the information is new and was generated for this book by experts working in-country. It presents for the first time in English a digest of a plethora of previously inaccessible Russian reports and scientific literature that will be invaluable for development agencies, including UN, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Bank as well as to students of this vast and fascinating region who seek up to date and authoritive information.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxxv
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Setting the Stage: Key Features of the Present-Day Central Asian Region: An Introduction to the Wider Historical, Social, Political, Economic, Cultural, and Ecologic Contexts of the Region in a Nutshell....Pages 3-29
Better Land Stewardship: An Economic and Environmental Imperative, If There Is to Be Sustainable Development....Pages 31-50
Evolution of Land Use in Pastoral Culture in Central Asia with Special Reference to Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan....Pages 51-67
Front Matter....Pages 69-69
Land Stewardship in Practice: An Example from the Eastern Pamirs of Tajikistan....Pages 71-90
Better Land Stewardship to Avert Poverty and Land Degradation: A Viewpoint from Afghanistan....Pages 91-108
Extensive Livestock Production: Afghanistan’s Kuchi Herders, Risks to and Strategies for Their Survival....Pages 109-127
Constraints and Barriers to Better Land Stewardship: Analysis of PRAs in Tajikistan....Pages 129-161
Front Matter....Pages 163-163
Rural Livelihoods in Tajikistan: What Factors and Policies Influence the Income and Well-Being of Rural Families?....Pages 165-187
The Feed-Livestock Nexus: Livestock Development Policy in Tajikistan....Pages 189-212
Rangeland-Based Livestock: A Vital Subsector Under Threat in Tajikistan....Pages 213-235
Front Matter....Pages 237-237
Pastoral Tenure in Central Asia: Theme and Variation in the Five Former Soviet Republics....Pages 239-274
Governance and the Role of Institutions in Sustainable Development in the Central Asian Region....Pages 275-303
Land Tenure Reform in Tajikistan: Implications for Land Stewardship and Social Sustainability: A Case Study....Pages 305-329
Front Matter....Pages 331-331
Engaging with Land Users: The First Steps on a Long Road....Pages 333-356
Fostering Community-Based Stewardship of Wildlife in Central Asia: Transforming Snow Leopards from Pests into Valued Assets....Pages 357-380
Participatory Management of Desert Rangelands to Improve Food Security and Sustain the Natural Resource Base in Uzbekistan....Pages 381-404
Front Matter....Pages 405-405
International Perspectives on Legislative and Administrative Reforms as an Aid to Better Land Stewardship....Pages 407-429
Conclusions and a Way Forward....Pages 431-448
Back Matter....Pages 449-458
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