Livelihood
MARAG's efforts in the realm of livelihoods are firmly grounded in the principles of 'Life with Dignity' and 'Food Sovereignty.' Many pastoral and marginalized communities primarily rely on common property resources. Unfortunately, in recent times, these 'commons' have faced threats such as acquisition, encroachment, degradation, and desertification. These challenges have directly impacted the livelihoods of communities dependent on these common resources. In response, MARAG is dedicated to the restoration, conservation, and safeguarding of these vital common property resources.
On a global scale, MARAG, acting as the secretariat for WAMIP, has played a significant role in advocating for the rights of pastoralists. One notable achievement has been the inclusion of the terms 'pastoralist' and 'rangeland' in the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT).
MARAG actively engages with communities, government agencies, and civil society organizations in the following ways:
- Facilitating community-based management of common lands and water resources.
- Ensuring equitable access to common property resources.
- Collaborating with the government to enhance the effective implementation of existing laws and government regulations, such as those related to grazing lands, land acquisition, and the Forest Rights Act.
- Promoting the recognition of pastoralist knowledge systems for environmental conservation.
- Establishing the significant contribution of pastoralism to the sustainability of ecosystems.
- Conducting mapping exercises and documentation to address the lack of data and information.
- Encouraging youth and women to engage in traditional livelihoods and traditional crafts such as handicrafts and embroidery.