Yeylaq

A yeylaq (also spelled yaylaq) is a summer pasture or highland pasture, typically used in mountainous regions. The term is primarily associated with cultures across Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Anatolia.

Yeylaqs serve as seasonal grazing lands for livestock, particularly sheep, goats, cattle, and horses. During the warmer months, nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoralist communities migrate to these higher altitudes, taking their animals with them. This allows the lowland areas to recover and provides the animals with fresh vegetation and cooler temperatures, escaping the heat and potential drought of lower elevations.

The practice of utilizing yeylaqs is an integral part of the traditional lifestyle of many groups. It involves not only the seasonal movement of people and animals but also specific social structures, customs, and knowledge related to land management, animal husbandry, and resource utilization in the highland environment.

The economic significance of yeylaqs lies in their contribution to livestock production, which is often a key component of the regional economy. In addition, yeylaqs can have ecological importance, playing a role in biodiversity conservation and water resource management.

Modernization and changing socio-economic conditions have impacted traditional yeylaq practices in some regions. Challenges include land degradation, conflicts over resource use, and the sedentarization of pastoralist communities. However, efforts are being made in some areas to preserve and sustainably manage yeylaqs, recognizing their cultural and ecological value.