By Mohamud Haji Elmi
Saturday November 1, 2025
Grassland is the most widely propagated and cultivated plant on earth – 67% of all agricultural area (around 4.9 billion hectares of land according to FAO 2015, is permanent meadows and pastures, of which grasses are dominant proportion. Of all arable land (1.4 billion hectares land), 46% are covered by the five grass crops wheat, maize, rice, barely, sorghum and sugar cane. These crops are grown as food or feed resources, and some of them have become energy sources in recent decades.
Somalia’s Ecosystem has been neglected and needs to be safeguarded and repaired. Safeguarding and repairing Somalia’s neglected ecosystem requires multi-faceted, sustainable approach that addresses environmental degradation, overexploitation of natural resources, and the impact of climate change. Here is how this can happen:
a) Reforestation and Afforestation
Challenge:
Deforestation due to illegal charcoal production and overgrazing have also devastated Somalia’s forests, particularly the acacia species.
Solution:
Large-scale tree-planting campaigns focusing on native species.
Promote agroforestry practices that integrate trees into farming systems.
Enforce bans on illegal logging and charcoal exports while offering alternative livelihoods.
b) Water Resources Management
Challenge:
Rivers like Juba and Shabelle face drying due to overuse, siltation, and changing rainfall patterns.
Solution:
Build sustainable irrigation systems to optimize water use in agriculture.
Restore wetlands and riverbanks to improve water retention and ecosystem health.
Encourage rainwater harvesting and construct small dams for water storage.
Somalia’s Shrubland
Does Somalia have more grasslands compared to shrubs?
Yes, Somalia has both grasslands and shrublands, but shrublands are more dominant. Here is a breakdown of the country's vegetation:
1. Grasslands: Grasslands are found in certain regions, especially in areas with seasonal rainfall. These are associated with the savanna ecosystems, which support pastoralism and livestock grazing. The southern and central parts of Somalia, such as the regions around the Shabelle and Jubba rivers, have more grasslands due to the slightly higher rainfall compared to the arid regions.
2. Shrublands: Shrublands dominate much of Somalia's landscape, particularly in the semi-arid and arid regions. These areas are characterized by drought-resistant shrubs like acacia, spiny bushes, and small trees adapted to low rainfall. The northern parts of Somalia, including the Puntland and Somaliland regions, are covered by dry shrublands.
3. Seasonal Variations: During the rainy seasons (Gu and Deyr), some areas that are typically shrublands experience bursts of grass growth, especially in depressions or near water sources.
While grasslands exist, especially in areas with better water availability, Somalia's vegetation is primarily adapted to its arid and semi-arid climate, making shrublands more prevalent.
Typical Rangeland Western Australia-like Somali landscape:this picture is West Australia (WA)
The rangelands cover about 2.2 million square kilometers (87% of WA, which is all but the south-west agricultural region), and pastoral stations for grazing livestock cover 857,833 square kilometers (km2) of that, based on active leases as of June 2016. The rest of the rangelands consist of land vested for conservation, Indigenous purposes and unallocated Crown land. A map of all Western Australian pastoral land tenure is available in the DPIRD Digital Library.
Another picture of West Australia (WA)
Adapted managed grazing
What is the most valuable resource of Somalia?
Somalia's most valuable resource is its pastures, which cover most of the country. These pastures support the main economic activity of livestock raising, which is more significant than crop farming and accounts for about three-fifths of Somalia's foreign exchange. Livestock raising surpasses crop growing fourfold in value, making it a crucial component of the economy.
Hydrologic characteristics of range sites and associated land use should be an important consideration when formulating rangeland development plans. Intense monsoonal rainfall combined with rapid removal of vegetate cover creates an environment susceptible to flash-flooding and erosion (A.A Takar).
Three growing seasons of livestock deferment did not significantly increase cover remaining on the shrub interspaces at the end of the dry season. Cover left by livestock was later removed by termites and other microorganisms. The lack of cover difference between grazed and ungrazed sites resulted in similar infiltration rates and interrill erosion. Decreased ability of livestock to graze under the thorny shrubs and greater phytomass associated with shrub leaf-fall accounts for the greater cover and litter biomass accumulation in the shrub understory which aided infiltration rates. The clay site had a lower infiltration rate and greater interrill erosion than the sand site. This was attributable to characteristics of the clay soil. Also, the clay sites were more dominated by annual forbs. The different cover characteristics of forbs, compared with the greater cover of annual grasses on the sandy site, and the rapid decomposition associated with forbs, contributed to greater seasonal variability of infiltration and interrill erosion on the clay site. For these reasons, the clay sites represent a source of proportionally greater danger in terms of runoff and erosion, which should be a consideration in the management of these arid rangelands.
Grasslands, once covering 25% to 40% of Earth's land surface. Grasslands are dominated by grasses and grass-like plants. Many have been converted to croplands, significantly impacting pastoral communities. The loss of grasslands often signals the onset of drought, as grasses play a crucial role in retaining water that would otherwise contribute to runoff. This water retention supports vegetation essential for grazing and certain types of cultivation. However, soil degradation poses challenges, emphasizing the need for sustainable land management practices to maintain soil health and productivity.
Somalia's geography is semi-arid savannah grassland, a landscape that has historically underpinned the nation's pastoralist lifestyle. Livestock production is the cornerstone of Somalia's economy, contributing about 40% to the GDP and more than 50% of export earnings. This deep-rooted reliance on livestock is unparalleled globally. To achieve comprehensive national development, it is imperative to fully harness and optimize this vital economic sector.
Effective grassland management is crucial for maintaining healthy soil and water resources. Conservationists with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in South Dakota have studied how different management practices affect soil properties, particularly water infiltration. Their findings reveal that management decisions significantly influence infiltration rates, which are vital for soil moisture retention and reducing runoff.
A significant threat to our grasslands stems from the lack of adoption of planned grazing practices. Implementing such strategies is essential for optimizing nutrient cycling and enhancing soil quality, thereby ensuring the sustainability of grassland ecosystems.
Grasses serve as a vital resource for numerous animal species. Grazing mammals, including cattle, sheep, and goats, consume grass leaves, while many birds and rodents feed on grass seeds. Humans also rely on grasses, as staple crops like wheat, rice, corn (maize), barley, oats, millet, and sorghum are all grass species. Additionally, plants such as sugarcane and bamboo belong to the grass family. In Africa, grasslands, or savannahs, cover half of the continent's land surface, supporting the livelihoods of almost 50% of the population who depend directly or indirectly on livestock.
During a visit to Somalia in 2013, I observed that rural communities are diligently striving to improve their lives. However, they often lack the necessary knowledge to address challenges affecting their livelihoods. Traditional livestock-rearing practices, unchanged for a century, is a major challenge to be replaced. Modern goat and cattle farming owned by shareholders or businessmen investing that vacant lucrative untapped business available in Somalia.
Mohamud Haji Elmi
ASAP BOARD MEMBER:
Mohamud earned a BA degree in Geography & History from the Somali College of Education at Lafole. He has a diploma in environmental control and public health. He has been an active participant on many international conferences on Groundwater.
agriculturesomalia.org
This article is part of a series of articles published by ASAP-Association of Somali Agricultural Professionals based in Atlanta, USA.