Herding Contracts and Pastoral Mobility in the Far North Region of Cameroon

In the last four decades there has been a shift in livestock ownership in African pastoral systems from impoverished pastoralists to absentee owners who contract hired herders to take care of their animals. This increase in herding contracts has been held responsible for major changes, including constraints on pastoral mobility and breakdown of rangeland management institutions. In a longitudinal study of pastoral mobility and management of common-pool grazing resources in the Far North Region of Cameroon, we examined the impact of herding contracts on pastoral mobility and management of common-pool grazing resources. Our analyses indicate that there are no major differences in mobility patterns between herds under contract (HUC) and independent herds (IH), and that absentee owners are as committed to the ethos and practice of open access as independent herders. We end with a discussion of the critical role of absentee owners in the mobile pastoral system.