UNESCO on Wednesday added the seasonal droving of livestock along migratory routes in the Mediterranean and the Alps - transhumance - to its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the United Nations cultural organisation said in a statement.
Every year in spring and autumn, thousands of animals are driven by groups of herders in the Mediterranean and the Alps along steady routes from dawn to dusk, the statement explained.
"The practice shapes relations among people, animals and ecosystems and involves shared rituals and social practices, and is one of the most sustainable, efficient livestock farming methods," the statement said.
A form of pastoralism, the practice comprises horizontal transhumance, in plain or plateau regions, and vertical transhumance, typically in mountain regions, the statement noted.
UNESCO's Representative List seeks to enhance visibility for the traditional practices and know-how of communities, according to the statement.
