Evolving Transhumance in Southern Oman: Ancient Traditions for Modern Realities

In the southern Arabian Peninsula, annual southwest monsoons have resulted in an unexpected landscape, defying the region’s desert and oil-rich reputation. Amidst escarpment mountains, deciduous cloud forests flourish, while the coastal plains host papaya, banana, and coconut plantations. Traditionally, the inhabitants led semi-nomadic lives, relocating with their livestock based on seasonal fodder availability. During the monsoonal period, known locally as xorf, the mountains become perilous for camels, prompting a migration to the safer coastal plains. Yet, in the past, when typhoons threatened the plains, people sought refuge with their livestock in mountain caves. This mobility aimed to optimise resources and safeguard lives, especially in times when food resources were limited to what could be grown locally. In the earlier twentieth century, resource maximisation was crucial due to limited local food production. Today, although permanent dwellings are more prevalent, the movement of people and livestock persists but serves a different purpose. Livestock relocation during xorf aims to allow mountain vegetation to establish itself before grazing begins, shifting the focus from human and livestock safety to ecological preservation in the mountains. This evolution reflects changing dynamics as the region balances tradition with contemporary environmental considerations.