Socioecological Characterization of the Transhumance Corridors in the Municipality of Gambos, Huíla Province

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize transhumance corridors in the municipality of Gambos, with an emphasis on the socioeconomic conditions of local communities, social organization, and predominant vegetation. The research adopted a mixed-methods approach, with an exploratory-descriptive approach, based on interviews with 30 heads of households, supplemented by direct observation and route mapping. The results revealed that pastoral communities maintain a simple way of life, hierarchically structured around the authority of the soba, with cattle and goat rising, associated with subsistence farming, as their main economic activities. It was found that in the Taca area, livestock remain in the surrounding valleys and mountains, while in Pocolo, seasonal movements are directed to the Tchimbolelo valley, traditionally rich in pastureland. The predominant vegetation consists of Colophospermum mopane and Miombo formations, which gradually give way to characteristic formations of sparsely distributed Brachystegia plurijuga and shrubs dominated by Baphia massaiensis ssp. obovata, considered an important forage species. The conclusion is that characterizing transhumance corridors contributes to understanding agropastoral mobility strategies, supporting sustainable management and environmental preservation policies in southern Angola.