Livestock is vital in sustaining livelihoods and ensuring food security in resource-poor, climatically harsh, and less productive regions. In India, the livestock sector contributes significantly to the agricultural GDP, accounting for approximately 40 percent in semi-arid regions and 70 percent in arid regions (WOTR Livestock Position Paper, 2013). The rainfed region, which hosts two-thirds of the livestock population (Rao, 2015), is primarily managed by rural small, marginal, and landless households. Due to their low initial investment and operational costs, these households often prefer small ruminants like sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry (Ali J., 2007). Rearing small livestock can potentially deliver economic benefits to women, tribal, and other vulnerable groups. The 20th Livestock Census in 2019 reported 302.79 million bovines, 74.26 million sheep, 148.88 million goats, 9.06 million pigs, and approximately 851.81 million poultry. However, this census did not account for pastoralists due to their nomadic nature. In India, around 350 million people depend on pastureland for their livelihoods. Unfortunately, recent decades have seen significant decline, loss, and degradation of pastureland (ElDidi, H. et al., 2024), severely impacting rural economies that rely heavily on extensive livestock systems. Given these challenges, it is crucial to explore the potential of village-based systems using Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) to upscale the livestock sector. This approach could support ecosystem enhancement, provide environmentally viable solutions for the livestock sector, and engage policymakers, practitioners, and financial institutions in planning sustainable strategies. Challenges of the livestock sector As the global environment rapidly changes, the livestock sector faces various challenges, from grazing practices to policy infrastructure: Key challenge Description of challenge Grazing and fodder-related challenges Degraded pastures Conversion of commons/pasture land into agricultural land Infrastructure development and reduced grazing grounds Replacement of the fodder-based crops with cash crops Wasteland development program and restriction on grazing Shortage of feed and fodder Breed Improvement Promotion of cross-breeding and loss of Indigenous breeds Cross-breeding and climatic challenges Health Climate change and disease and heat stress susceptibility High economic losses due to animal diseases Policy Related Challenges Financial Constraints and inadequate budgetary allocation Little or lack of livestock vet care Inadequate livestock census data on ruminants of pastoralists No adequate efforts on the National Livestock Extension Policy Inadequate programs/schemes support for livestock extension Productivity High input and low productivity Infrastructure Inadequate infrastructure and human resources for support services Inadequate processing and value addition Issues in the marketing of livestock and livestock products Inadequate attention towards extension services Inadequate human resources Lack of training in extension management Research and documentation Inadequate documentation of traditional knowledge To address these challenges, Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) can play a significant role in supporting ecosystem enhancement through environmentally sustainable solutions that have the potential to upscale the entire livestock system. What is EbA? EbA is a nature-based approach that harnesses biodiversity and ecosystem services to help people adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. It encompasses a broad set of strategies that involve managing ecosystems and their services to reduce the vulnerability of human communities to climate impacts. By implementing EbA strategies, the livestock sector can work towards more sustainable and resilient systems that are better equipped to face environmental challenges while supporting the ecosystems on which they depend. The second Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Biodiversity and climate change described EbA as "the utilisation of biodiversity and ecosystem services as integral components of a comprehensive adaptation strategy aimed at assisting communities in navigating the adverse impacts of climate change" (SCBD 2009). Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in livestock management utilises biodiversity and ecosystem services to enhance livestock's resilience to climate change (Vignola, R. et al. 2014). EbA involves adjustments or preparations in natural, human, or livestock systems to adapt to new or changing environmental conditions, mitigating potential harm and leveraging beneficial opportunities (NAAS, 2016). The three key pillars of EbA - participatory governance, healthy ecosystem services and biodiversity, and human adaptation to climate change - can significantly impact livestock management, particularly in pasture management and agro-pastoral systems (Vignola, R. et al., 2014; WOTR Info Brief, 2021). While agriculture has been a central focus for governments, donors, and practitioners, livestock remains crucial for agricultural growth and sustainability.Despite an overall increase in livestock population, the declining cattle population is a concern for both the livestock and agriculture sectors. The 2019 livestock census reported a 10.07% decrease in cattle population in Maharashtra and India. This trend is attributed to increased mechanization in farming and the adoption of modern, intensive farming practices. While livestock has become more cost-effective for farmers due to its provision of draught power and other services, this shift is becoming expensive. The decrease in cattle numbers has reduced Farm Yield Manure (FYM) use, with farms increasingly relying on chemical fertilisers. Furthermore, the reduction in cattle numbers has increased the risk for farmers due to a lack of diversification. Traditionally, farms supplemented their income by selling milk. However, with fewer cattle, they depend more heavily on crop income alone, proving unsustainable and fragile under changing climatic conditions. This situation underscores the urgent need for strategies like EbA that integrate livestock into broader agricultural resilience plans. Effectiveness of EbA in livestock sector The following section discusses the effectiveness of EbA in the livestock sector across various levels: Across the globe, EbA is becoming an increasingly popular strategy, especially for nature-dependent communities in rural areas. Since livestock depends on natural resources, understanding the EbA approach and its effectiveness for the sector is essential (Reid H., et.al (2019). The effectiveness is attributed to ecological, social, political and economic conditions. Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) is a strategy to help adapt to climate change, and it can be effective in several ways; however, effectiveness for humans, ecosystems and financial effectiveness is discussed as below. Upscaling EbA enhances the adaptive capacity and resilience of livestock-dependent communities, reducing their vulnerability to climate change. From an ecological perspective, livestock rearing, while sometimes involving trampling and grazing, also plays a positive role by converting organic waste into valuable dung and urine. Small ruminants contribute to seed dispersal, rangeland management, and the maintenance of wild plant diversity, domesticated animal diversity, and overall ecosystem and landscape diversity. Furthermore, livestock rearing can support sustainable land management by improving soil health and protecting local ecosystems against invasive species. Financially, livestock provides essential draught power, transportation, and manure for agriculture. The low dependency on external inputs like labor and feed, the use of common and fallow land for grazing with no input cost, and the risk management through herd diversification further enhance the financial effectiveness of this approach. Scaling up EbA practices for livestock management What is needed to scale up EbA practices for livestock management? Expand weather-based advisories to protect livestock from losses and promote the FarmPrecise app for livestock holders on a large scale. Implement policies and programs to protect, conserve, and regenerate common pasture lands by establishing pasture/common land management committees and enhancing livestock holders' participation. Establish livestock rearers' cooperatives or Livestock Producer Companies to manage the marketing of animal products. Support the conservation and development of indigenous breeds through subsidies and incentives. Preserve and document traditional knowledge of livestock keepers and pastoralists. Ensure inter-departmental coordination between the Department of Animal Husbandry and other relevant departments (MGNREGA, Forest and Land, Environment and Climate Change, Rural Development) to align various programs. Conclusion The livestock sector plays a pivotal role in contributing to global development goals, particularly Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and 15 (Life on Land). It generates income, ensures food security in resource-scarce regions, supports nutritional security and health, and promotes sustainable land management while combating land degradation. Scaling up Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in the livestock sector requires financial investment and recognition of smallholder farmers, livestock holders, and pastoralists' invaluable contributions. Special programs and policies must prioritize the livestock sector's role in fostering nature-based, sustainable solutions that strengthen rural communities and ecosystems. It is essential to reorient livestock policies from a narrow focus on stall-fed systems, intensification, and breed improvement. Instead, creating an enabling environment for mobile and extensive livestock systems would better serve smallholder farmers, pastoralists, and agricultural labourers who depend on this sector. Integrating livestock into broader agricultural strategies will help reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable value chain. Collaboration among government, civil society organizations, and funders is crucial to leverage the livestock system's potential. Donors and financial institutions should work with government and civil society organisations to upscale innovative solutions in the livestock sector. By aligning the interests of the livestock sector with sustainable agricultural practices, we can foster a thriving rural economy and create an interconnected system that supports both people and the environment. References: Alary, V, et al. (2014). 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