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.