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Main drivers of mobility changes within camel herds: between tradition and modernity

Alary V., Srairi M.T., Amsidder L., Ramdane L., Benidir M., Julien L., Huguenin J.. 2018. In : Sghiri Abdelmalek (ed.), Kichou Faouzi (ed.). Recent advances in camelids biology, health and production : Proceedings of the 5th conference ISOCARD 2018. Laayouné : ISOCARD, p. 466-468. Conference of the international society of camelid research and development ISOCARD 2018 "Recent advances in camelids biology, health and production". 5, 2018-11-12/2018-11-15, Laâyoune (Maroc).

At the interaction between oases and deserts, camel systems have been identified as the most efficient in valorizing scarce resources (water, land and capital). These systems have recently witnessed important changes due to climate change, the modernization of living conditions and the evolutions in resources' access and regulation (mainly water and land). Even if mobility remains the pillar of camel systems' sustainability, its present configuration escapes all the ancient or a-priori models like nomadism or transhumance. This study aims to describe the recent changes in mobility management by camel breeders in Zagora region (Center Eastern Morocco) and identifies their main drivers. Two methodologies were used: a narrative approach to describe mobility management between generations and a holistic approach to understand the current diversity of mobility. This work was based on a survey conducted near 41 camel breeders during 2017, using a semi-structured questionnaire. The main results allowed identifying four patterns of mobility within camel farming systems according to two main factors: the lifestyle (under tent on the rangelands or in house in the oasis villages) and the land and cropping system. Adding the variables of mobility management, we observed significant links between camel farming systems and mobility management. Camel herders with tree-crop systems (type 1) can afford periodically long mobility (> 1000 km) to access far pastoral resources, whereas camel herders living under the tent (type 2) practice short mobility around the settlement. The camel herders who have adopted a modern life pattern and developed bivouac activities for tourists (type 3) practice a hybrid system of mobility with 3 to 4 months under the tent during the summer season (called Azib) and 8 to 9 months in the village where the camels are kept in the pen. In theAzib system, camel herders maintain the tradition of mobility with the tent, but they move alone leaving their family a

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