Environ Monit Assess. 2026 Apr 3;198(4):403. doi: 10.1007/s10661-026-15245-w.
ABSTRACT
Rapid urbanization puts additional strain on traditional livestock systems, but the spatial dynamics of urban/peri-urban grazing in South Asia remain largely unknown. This study examines practices, socioeconomic effects, and stakeholder acceptance via surveys conducted with 100 graziers and 50 non-graziers in the semiarid region of Multan, Pakistan. The results indicate clear spatial divergence. Urban areas face significantly elevated public health hazards, deterioration of green belts, and spatial limitations that concentrate livestock among middle-income groups, whereas peri-urban systems exhibit inequities in land access that benefit small ruminants and exhibit bimodal income distributions. Urban graziers like young cattle for rapid turnover and exhibit heightened confidence for expansion, in contrast to peri-urban stakeholders who foresee a reduction due to urban sprawl. Perceptions of non-graziers markedly differ, highlighting zoonotic and environmental concerns in contrast to cultural advantages and waste recycling. Findings necessitate cohesive policies that safeguard grazing lanes, create peripheral market centers, and improve veterinary services to maintain livelihoods during urban transitions.
PMID:41928044 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-026-15245-w
