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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Boise, Idaho » Northwest Watershed Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #287268
Title: Environmental vulnerability, assessment, and monitoring of grazing systems under index-based livestock insurance programs in East Africa

Author
item BARRET, CHRIS - Cornell University
item Clark, Pat
item DEGLORIA, STEVE - Cornell University
item GOMES, CARLA - Cornell University
item JENSEN, NATHAN - Cornell University
item MAHOWALD, N - Cornell University
item MUDE, ANDREW - International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) - Kenya

Submitted to: Cornell Modeling Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/21/2011
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Our goal is to characterize and monitor feedbacks between innovative insurance products and ecosystem services in resource poor environments. Our team is integrating longitudinal field-based measurements and monitoring protocols to quantify grazing animal impact related to the implementation of an index-based livestock insurance program in southern Ethiopia (www.ilri.org/ibli/). Global Positioning System (GPS) collars have been deployed among livestock herds to monitor animal movement and behavior to assess the impact of insurance on pastoralist grazing practices and on range ecology. Expected outcomes include measurements of resource selection and utilization by grazing animals and formulation of state-space models for predicting pastoralist decision-making relevant to managing forage and water resources, protecting fragile environments, and reducing resource conflicts.