Banyamulenge cattle herders have historically contested grazing rights with the Babembe and other ethnic groups.

The government, and for short terms gains, transformed the customarily friction between neighbouring Southern and Northern tribes over grazing rights into holy war.

This can produce water conflict at a local level, such as between tribes over grazing rights or the property right over wells as has happened in Ethiopia.

NRT has helped pastoralist communities establish effective governance mechanisms for the environment on which they depend, reducing conflict over grazing rights, especially in times of drought.

In 2012, the Hammonds were prosecuted for setting fires in 2001 and 2006 that destroyed portions of federal land to which they had leased grazing rights, and endangered people's lives.