IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

The journal investigates pastoralism from a variety of disciplinary perspectives across the biophysical, social and economic sciences. 

Pastoralism is a global phenomenon and recent advances in information technology now make it possible to address it on a global scale. Especially in developing countries, the penetration of this journal into remote district offices, government research establishments and NGOs will be promoted by its free distribution, made possible by funding support.

The first two issues (Volume 1, 2010) were published by Practical Action Publishers (UK).  From now on, the journal will be published by SpringerOpen (Germany).  The journal will be open access online, without requiring payment. This is made possible by the pledged support from the Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and the World Initiative for Sustainable Pastoralism (WISP) at IUCN.

Our contributors will benefit from the much wider distribution of the journal through the open access arrangement, as well as the prestige and publicity generated by Springer’s reputation for scholarly journal publications.  

Those interested in reading our journal will be able to download articles wherever they have internet access.

Submissions, reviews and editing will all be done through the journal’s online website which is being set up by SpringerOpen.

Features A central forum where those concerned with pastoralism can confront each other’s ideas, data and analysis, and discuss the implications of their work. Pastoralism encourages debate by circulating selected papers prior to their publication, and simultaneously publishing the paper, commentary on it, and the authors’ responses to their critics.  Readers who are unfamiliar with a specialized topic will therefore be presented both with an original contribution and with a sample of expert opinion on that subject. 

The journal is committed to publishing material by administrators and field workers who would not normally contribute to a scientific journal. We will devote a portion of the journal to short communications that present fresh ideas or original field material. 

The editors are Carol Kerven and Roy Behnke, at Odessa Centre UK.

If you are interested in publishing articles in Pastoralism contact the editors, and to submit a manuscript go to the Pastoralism journal submission webpage.

If you would like to receive updates on the journal, please contact wisp@iucn.org

Official Springer website                                                   IIED Journal website

"I welcome this new journal. As a grandchild of the pioneering work of the Overseas Development Institute Pastoral Network, “Pastoralism - Research, Policy and Practice” can enliven the debate about pastoralism from a solid research base, through to the business of policy making and putting into practice. The birth of a new journal is particularly welcome as a signal that the 'death of pastoralism' has been much exaggerated."

Jeremy Swift, Emeritus Professor, Institute of Development Studies (IDS) Sussex UK

With pastoralists around the world facing unprecedented challenges, the launch of Pastoralism – research, policy and practice could not be more timely.  While the challenges of climate change, land degradation, competition for use of land, and social, political and economic pressures are all increasing there are also real opportunities for pastoral communities to take advantage of new market demands for livestock products, technological developments in livestock breeding, nutrition and health as well as information technology.  The realization of these opportunities needs interdisciplinary research which traditionally has been difficult to publish.  Pastoralism – research, policy and practice provides an important platform for the publication of interdisciplinary research which will be of value not only to researchers but to policy makers and development practitioners.

Iain A Wright
President, International Rangeland Congress