Comparative Ecoclimatic Study of Rangelands in Intertropical Africa and the Hot Arid Zones of the Indian Sub-continent

Abstract

Arid and Semi-arid rangelands in Intertropical Africa shows many similarities with the hot Arid and Semi-arid rangelands of the Indian sub-continent, in terms of land-use, range management and cropping patterns. Of particular significance is the comparison between the so called "Thar Desert" located in Pakistan and India, East of the Indus Valley and West of the Aravalli mountain range and the Sahel ecoclimatic zone, south of the Sahara. The paper is a concise attempt to analyse the similarities and differences between the arid tropical and sub-tropical rangelands of Africa and the Indian sub-continent in terms of climate, geomorphology, soils and related flora, vegetation and land-use practices. This comparative ecoclimatology and bioclimatology has some important consequences in terms of range and livestock development, cropping patterns and land-use, taking advantage of the experience gained in each area to the potential benefit of the other. Further systematic exchange of genetic material should be extended to reciprocal experience in the exploitation of natural resources such as agrofore.stry and range management under comparable socio-economic and socio-cultural environments.