<P> Pastoralists produce food in the world 's harshest environments , and pastoral production supports the livelihoods of rural populations on almost half of the world 's land . Several hundred million people are pastoralists , mostly in Africa and Asia . Pastoralists manage rangelands covering about a third of the Earth 's terrestrial surface and are able to produce food where crop production is not possible . </P>
what functions did pastoralists provide between settled communities
pastoral production supports the livelihoods of rural populations on almost half of the world 's land