Agricultural heritage in disintegration: Trends of agropastoral transhumance on the southeast Tibetan Plateau

Shaoliang, Yi; Wu, Ning; Luo, Peng; Wang, Qian; Shi, Fusun; Zhang, Qiaoying; Ma, Jianchao

doi:10.3843/susdev.15.3:10

Cited by 26 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 8 publications

(9 reference statements)

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“…It is important for policy makers and development agencies to understand and recognize household diversity and vulnerability, so that policies and programs are designed to cater for their needs (Yi et al 2008). Policies and strategies need to be flexible and responsive to enable TAP communities to share the benefit of the nation's growth and successfully adapt to changing environmental and climatic factors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Transhumant Agro-pastoralism in Bhutan: A Disappearing Livelihood?

et al. 2014

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This paper presents research on changes in the practice of transhumant agro-pastoralism (TAP) in Bhutan within the context of global changes to pastoralism. Households practicing TAP migrate their cattle to lower elevations during winter to access pastures and gain employment. Information was gathered from in-depth interviews (n=24 households), focus groups (n=7) and a semi-structured survey (n=75 households) from six villages. Nine government and non-government agency staff and six livestock extension staff were involved in interviews and focus groups respectively. There has been a 31 % decline in the number of households practicing TAP between 1990 and 2010, due to farm labour shortage, alternative livelihood choices, government policies and climate change. Nevertheless, TAP practice persists, forming the mainstay of many families. The historical legacy, economic and social importance of cattle and a desire to gain formal rights to common land keeps TAP alive today. We conclude that TAP is likely to continue to decline as Bhutan develops, however, households need to be supported to make informed choices about their future.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Transhumant Agro-pastoralism in Bhutan: A Disappearing Livelihood?

et al. 2014

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“…Most Chinese biological research has not asked, much less answered, questions regarding human motivations among the pastoralists using the rangelands of the QTP, but this has not kept many authors from suggesting simple reductions in livestock numbers or dramatic changes in livestock production systems (e.g., Gu, 2000b;Li et al, 2003a;Ma et al, 2004). The synthetic approach that is critical to understanding the etiology of the rangeland degradation problem and thus to proposing policies that are both ecologically, economically and socially sustainable has largely been lacking in China (for exceptions, see Wu and Yan, 2002;Yi et al, 2008). Within China, open inquiry into the problem of grassland degradation on the QTP has no doubt been constrained by its close association with sensitive issues bearing on cultural conservation and political control.…”

Section: Summary and Research Needsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Rangeland degradation on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau: A review of the evidence of its magnitude and causes

Harris

2010

Journal of Arid Environments

899

565

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“…However, as previously mentioned, this study may not provide a reliable analysis of the effect of pastoral labour (see above). In contrast, however, Yi et al (2008) had a sample size of only 50 and found a statistically significant relationship, something which may weaken the argument in relation to the importance of having relatively large sample sizes when investigating the relationship between pastoral labour and production. Yi et al, however, do not indicate whether they have checked for important confounders (e.g.…”

Section: Marginal Effects: Sample Size and Effect Sizementioning

confidence: 55%

“…In a study of agropastoral transhumance in twelve villages on the southeast Tibetan Plateau, Yi et al (2008) argued that livestock production is labour intensive, and as a consequence, labour limits the number of animals kept by households. Moreover in times of collective management, 13 one person was needed per fifteen milking animals (ibid.…”

Section: Herd Sizementioning

confidence: 99%

“…labour availability (see note 1). For example, Sieff (1997) measured labour availability as any individual over six years within the household; Turner and Hiernaux (2008) used number of males above the age of six years within the household; while Yi et al (2008) used number of persons within households, i.e. household size, with no age specification.…”

Section: Measuring Pastoral Labourmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Contradictory Evidence as a Guide for Future Research: Investigating the Relationship between Pastoral Labour and Production

Næss¹

2010

Nomadic Peoples

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While there is a general agreement that labour has a significant effect on agricultural production, questions have been raised as to whether this is the case for pastoral production. While a review of the literature reveals a prevalent assumption of a positive effect of labour inputs, studies quantifying the relationship have found contradictory evidence for this assumption. Consequently, it could be questioned if it is still justifiable to maintain the assumption of a positive relationship between pastoral labour and production. This article argues that this position is still tenable as previous studies raise important unanswered questions. First, previous studies have been characterized by varying sample sizes, an important issue if the effect of pastoral labour is marginal as some evidence suggests. Second, previous studies have used different measures of pastoral production and as such do not represent clear-cut evidence for or against the assumed positive relationship.

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Agricultural heritage in disintegration: Trends of agropastoral transhumance on the southeast Tibetan Plateau

Cited by 26 publications

References 8 publications

Changes in Transhumant Agro-pastoralism in Bhutan: A Disappearing Livelihood?

Changes in Transhumant Agro-pastoralism in Bhutan: A Disappearing Livelihood?

Rangeland degradation on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau: A review of the evidence of its magnitude and causes

Contradictory Evidence as a Guide for Future Research: Investigating the Relationship between Pastoral Labour and Production

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