The first chapter gives a brief description of a pastoral production system, as envisaged by the study team and outlines the multi-disciplinary approach of the study, its sampling design and the data collected. Chapters 2 & 3 describe Kenya's biophysical and socio-economic environments, within which the Maasai livestock production system operates. The biophysical environment of the study site is described in detail in Chapter 4. Chapter 5 describes the social organization of the Maasai and how it affects their use of livestock and grazing resources.

Research carried out to evaluate management options and animal production potential of native and improved pastures in savanna regions of tropical America is reviewed, with emphasis on Colombia's Eastern Plains. In areas with limited infrastructure native grasses are the main forage resource and weight gains of cattle grazing these native pastures with burning and mineral supplementation vary from 70 to 90 kg/hd and from 15 to 20 kg/ha.

Assesses the effect (balance or imbalance) of the present relationships between the natural resource base and human activities; examines the role of some potentially destabilising forces, i.e, international markets, government programmes and socio-economic stratification; and reviews government's role in terms of its contributions to prudent natural resource management and options for the promotion of sustainable rural development.

PART ONE: RESEARCH FRAMEWORK