The pastoralists have depended on the rangelands for their survival and livelihoods. Their diet is mainly milk and meat but with the degradation of the rangelands, recurring droughts and increasing incidence of livestock diseases, their herds are diminishing. They can no longer count on their once plentiful supply of milk and meat and have to supplement their energy intake with cereals, sugar and non animal oils. More and more of the pastoralists have been forced into a cash economy and transact their businesses. When their herd numbers are decreasing and livestock prices poor they resort to unsustainable exploitation of the rangeland resources such as land fragmentation for sale to speculators, for subsistence farming, woodland clearing for charcoal and timber, poaching and sand extraction from dry river beds among others. These practices essentially become their businesses and enterprises.

ACC is now working with these communities to re-orient their economies and incomes to support conservation and sustainable management of their natural resources. With abundant wildlife, beautiful and historical landscapes, rich and interesting culture and skilled artisans the opportunities for eco-friendly enterprises are many and varied. ACC therefore works with these communities to establish and engage in appropriate conservation enterprises in each of the four landscapes and nationwide in order to improve incomes and livelihoods of local communities thereby mitigating the negative impacts of poverty on the environment and natural resources.