Qualitative fieldwork from 2022–2024 documented seasonal mobility, farmer-led selection and collective governance sustaining Nam Wa buffalo populations in Nan Province.
Key findings
- Seasonal mobility is central
- Community governance shapes selection and grazing access
- Land-use change threatens the system
Why this matters globally
The study broadens livestock conservation beyond genetics to include mobility, local knowledge and landscape access.
Thai researcher contribution
Researchers from Kasetsart University and Chiang Mai University contributed.
Limitations to consider
This qualitative study was designed to describe socioecological conditions rather than estimate population size, genetic diversity or comparative productivity. Its findings should not substitute for demographic or genetic surveys, and transferability is limited by the specific context of Lua communities and grazing systems in Nan Province.