AUTHOR=Laloi Chloe , Diallo Amadou Hamath , Ferrié Jean-Noël , Duboz Priscilla 
  
TITLE=Between Gobra and Guzerat: a reinvention of human-cattle-environment relationships in the Great Green Wall (northern Senegal)
  
JOURNAL=Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice
  
VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2026
  
YEAR=2026
  
URL=https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/journals/pastoralism-research-policy-and-practice/articles/10.3389/past.2026.16069
  
DOI=10.3389/past.2026.16069
  
ISSN=2041-7136
  
ABSTRACT=This article explores, based on local perceptions of the environment, the conditions that lead pastoralists to reinvent their farming practices—particularly through crossbreeding and diversification of activities—in a context marked by a strong presence of development projects. By combining qualitative methods (focus groups, interviews, ethnographic observation, and photo-elicitation), this study shows (1) that the narratives of pastoralists and project stakeholders are intertwined around the decline of the bush; (2) that the projects are a component of the pastoralist’s world that allows them to consider the possibility of not transhuming by gaining access to various resources (fodder, employment, etc.); and that (3) in the context of declining biodiversity and the implementation of projects, some pastoralists are considering to reframe their herding practices to be able to meet their needs during the dry season. This reinvention of herding practices is offset by crossbreeding local Gobra cows with Guzerat bulls from Brazil and by diversifying activities beyond livestock farming. These strategies are part of an adaptation to the environmental, economic, and political context while also meeting symbolic aspects valued by the pastoralists.