Linking Rangeland Health and Pastoral Efficiency: An RS–DEA Assessment in Semi-Arid Algeria

This study investigates the interlinkages between rangeland ecological condition and economic efficiency in the semi-arid pastoral systems of Nâama, Algeria, over the period 2012–2024. A total of 150 pastoral households were surveyed using a structured questionnaire to collect data on demographics, herd composition, grazing practices, feed costs, and livestock productivity. Vegetation dynamics were assessed using Sentinel-2 derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI2), while household-level economic performance was evaluated through input-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) under variable returns to scale. Principal Component Analysis (PCA), correlation tests, and non-parametric comparisons were applied to explore eco-economic relationships. Results revealed a significant positive association between NDVI and technical efficiency (r = 0.62, p < 0.05), indicating that better rangeland conditions reduce feed dependency and enhance productivity. Larger-scale breeders (C3) exhibited higher efficiency scores (0.82) compared to smallholders (C1) (0.74), reflecting advantages in resource access and management practices. Findings emphasize the potential of integrating remote sensing monitoring with economic efficiency assessment to inform targeted rangeland stewardship policies and improve resilience in vulnerable steppe ecosystems.These findings offer a scientific basis for developing incentive-based grazing policies, improving feed autonomy, and operationalizing remote-sensing-based early warning systems for sustainable rangeland management