Assessing Agroecological Performance in Yak Pastoral Systems: A Holistic Case Study Using TAPE in Merak and Sakteng, Bhutan

Tshering Lhamo^1*Dario Lucantoni²Sophie Van Den Berg³Philippe Jeanneaux⁴Dominique Barjolle^3*

• ¹Groups ESA, Angers, France
• ²Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy
• ³Universite de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
• ⁴VetAgro Sup - Site de Clermont, Lempdes, France

The study presents an in-depth analysis of the agroecological transition and performance of the Local Agroecological Food System (LAFS) in Merak and Sakteng, Bhutan, using an adapted version of the Tool Agroecological Performance Evaluation (TAPE) pastoralist as developed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Merak and Sakteng are located at an altitude of 3,500 and 2,900 meters above sea level, respectively, in the easternmost parts of Bhutan. These regions are home to the Brokpas, a yak-herding community that practices transhumance and lives a semi-nomadic life. Concurrently, a conceptual framework is presented to comprehend and interpret the intricate interaction of socio-cultural, ecological, and economic aspects in any local agri-food system based on the product(s) whose quality is linked to its origin. It offers a comprehensive assessment of the system's interactions and feedback loops. In both regions, the assessed system scored well in all the elements of Characterization of the Agroecological Transition (CAET), indicating a robust implementation of agroecological principles. The case study highlights the economic dependence on the livestock-based system, with larger herds and pastureland positively correlating to agroecological performances across all dimensions. Despite the remote locations and adverse climatic conditions, some households achieved an exemplary CAET score exceeding 80, which could be considered "agroecological lighthouse" for future scaling up of agroecological work. However, challenges like the unjust distribution of state-owned pastureland rights and ever-increasing restrictions due to conservation efforts pose a significant threat to pastoralists' livelihoods and their social harmony. This discourages pastoralists from pursuing and continuing their age-old traditional yak farming. Therefore, The study highlights the need for nomadic-centric policies and governance that address issues in equitable pastureland distribution, support for traditional grazing practices, and economic opportunities through ecotourism or better market access for traditional products. Finally, it shows that TAPE is useful for evaluating the agroecological transition and performance, especially in traditional animal-based agri-food systems like those in Bhutan, with some relevant adaptations. It further proposes the refining of TAPE to better capture nuances of pastoralist systems and ensures that evaluations of similar regions are appropriate and very accurate.