The paper by James E. Ellis and David M. Swift challenges the dominant paradigm that African pastoral ecosystems are potentially stable (equilibrium) systems that become destabilized by overstocking and overgrazing. Instead, they argue that these ecosystems are non-equilibrium but persistent, with dynamics more influenced by abiotic factors than biotic ones. The authors present evidence from nine years of research in northern Kenya, showing that pastoralists' strategies, such as expanding the spatial scale of exploitation and compensating for reduced livestock production through food substitution or human demand reduction, help maintain the ecosystem's stability. They suggest that development policies should build on and facilitate these traditional pastoral strategies rather than constrain them, as current practices often exacerbate degradation and failure. The paper highlights the importance of recognizing the non-equilibrium nature of pastoral ecosystems and the need for interventions that respect and support their dynamic characteristics.The paper by James E. Ellis and David M. Swift challenges the dominant paradigm that African pastoral ecosystems are potentially stable (equilibrium) systems that become destabilized by overstocking and overgrazing. Instead, they argue that these ecosystems are non-equilibrium but persistent, with dynamics more influenced by abiotic factors than biotic ones. The authors present evidence from nine years of research in northern Kenya, showing that pastoralists' strategies, such as expanding the spatial scale of exploitation and compensating for reduced livestock production through food substitution or human demand reduction, help maintain the ecosystem's stability. They suggest that development policies should build on and facilitate these traditional pastoral strategies rather than constrain them, as current practices often exacerbate degradation and failure. The paper highlights the importance of recognizing the non-equilibrium nature of pastoral ecosystems and the need for interventions that respect and support their dynamic characteristics.