In India's Kachchh region, Sahjeevan is forging a lasting connection between pastoralist communities and their land. Through decades of collaboration, the nonprofit helps herders secure grazing rights, maintain valuable livestock, and build resilient economies—all centered around Asia’s vast Banni grasslands.
- Sahjeevan assists pastoralists in securing grazing land and legal recognition.
- Focuses on conserving rare breeds such as the Banni buffalo and Kharai camel.
- Supports livelihood diversification through dairy, wool, and veterinary services.
What happened
For more than 30 years, Sahjeevan has worked closely with India’s pastoralist communities, especially the Maldharis, who move cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and camels across the challenging terrain of Gujarat’s Kachchh region. Their efforts focus around the Banni grassland, which is one of the largest tropical grasslands in Asia, where these herders have grazed their animals for generations. Sahjeevan has helped protect grazing rights, conserve local breeds such as the high-yield Banni buffalo, and maintain traditional herding practices.
Beyond securing land rights, Sahjeevan supports pastoralists in diversifying their livelihoods. This includes strengthening value chains for wool and dairy products, improving veterinary care, and creating market connections for non-bovine dairy goods. The organization promotes community-based groups that form a collective voice for herders in managing grazing lands and livestock. Legal advocacy has also played a role in removing harmful agricultural encroachments on these critical ecosystems.
Why it feels good
Sahjeevan’s approach is grounded in trust and respect for the deep knowledge pastoralist communities have of their environment. This partnership recognizes herders not just as resource users but as key custodians of biodiversity and stewards of the grasslands. Their lived experience and sustainable traditional practices are vital to protecting fragile prairie ecosystems from degradation.
By combining grassroots empowerment with engagement in policy and legal frameworks, Sahjeevan ensures that pastoralists gain both recognition and responsibility. This balance promotes ecological conservation and economic sustainability, allowing these communities to thrive while maintaining a living heritage linked to the land. The success of such models offers hope for similar efforts worldwide.
What to enjoy or watch next
Explore the richness of pastoralist culture in Gujarat through Sahjeevan’s ongoing projects that highlight the contributions of the Maldhari herders and their relationship with the Banni grasslands. Watching how traditional knowledge can align with modern advocacy provides valuable lessons for environmental conservation and community resilience.
Keep an eye on Sahjeevan’s expanding work beyond Kachchh into other parts of India, where similar pastoralist groups face environmental and economic challenges. Learning about how these communities adapt and innovate in the face of change can inspire broader support for sustainable rural livelihoods and ecosystem stewardship.