Conclusion
Our study demonstrates that transitioning from open grazing to enclosure
and browsing management practices can enhance plant productivity and
foster better forage establishment in the Somali rangelands of Ethiopia.
Specifically, we discovered that enclosures exhibit greater herbaceous
species richness, abundance of desirable species, and biomass in
comparison to grazing and browsing management sites. Conversely,
browsing areas displayed significantly higher woody biomass, density,
and canopy cover than the other grazing management practices. As a
result, we advocate for the promotion of traditional pastoralist
knowledge and practices, which entail dividing herds and assigning
browser animals (camels and goats) to bush-rich areas and grazers
(cattle and sheep) to open grazing areas. Embracing traditional
enclosure grazing management practices is essential for maintaining the
natural environment and preserving rangeland ecosystem biodiversity.
Consequently, rangeland
restoration approaches should incorporate indigenous rangeland
management practices to ensure the sustainable utilization of rangeland
resources while upholding the social and cultural values of the
community.