Differential Benefits of Multi- and Single-Household Grassland Management Patterns in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China

Cao, Jianjun; Xiong, Yujiu; Sun, Jing; Xiong, Wan-Fang; Du, Guozhen

doi:10.1007/s10745-011-9384-0

Cited by 54 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 19 publications

(16 reference statements)

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“…As a result, it allows sociocultural systems to complement, rather than fi ght against, biophysical systems. This has not only ecological benefi ts but also signifi cant social ones, particularly for the contintuity of pastoral cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge (Bao et al 2008;Cao et al 2011a).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2 Cao et al (2011aCao et al ( , 2011bCao et al ( , 2013 found ecological benefi ts including greater biomass, species diversity and coverage under multi-household management compared to singlehousehold management in Maqu, with plant species richness increasing with the more extensive areas associated with larger multi-household units.…”

Section: The Policy Of Enclosuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Roles of Overgrazing, Climate Change and Policy as Drivers of Degradation of China's Grasslands

Cao¹,

Yeh²,

Holden³

et al. 2013

Nomadic Peoples

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Climate change and overgrazing are believed by policy makers to have been the drivers of grassland degradation in China over the past thirty years. However, recent work has suggested that policies that have led to privatization of use rights and household enclosures are more important drivers of degradation. An analysis of available evidence from scientifi c publications and national survey data relating to climate change, livestock numbers, and management policy was undertaken to evaluate the case for each of these possible drivers of degradation. The analysis suggests that, to date, policy measures imposed to avoid the 'tragedy of the commons' have been more important than either climate change or overgrazing as a driver of degradation. The resulting fragmentation of the pastoral landscape has caused localized grazing pressure and spatial and temporal mismatches between grassland production and livestock access to forage. Grazing rights negotiated and allocated at a multiplehousehold level would allow greater productivity, better rangeland condition, possible advantages of scale and pooling of herder resources, and better potential to adapt to future climate change.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Policy Of Enclosuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Roles of Overgrazing, Climate Change and Policy as Drivers of Degradation of China's Grasslands

Cao¹,

Yeh²,

Holden³

et al. 2013

Nomadic Peoples

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Little can be achieved on the grasslands without the active support and cooperation by the plateau herdsmen. What the herdsmen need is the provision of sound, research-based advice on the implementation, risks and benefits of adopting new practices, and financial aid in the form of low-interest loans or grants, and the willing adoption of techniques and demonstration of the benefits by pioneering herdsmen within their localities (Cao et al 2011). For example, researches, followed by demonstrations of the technology and benefits to be derived from the win-win model for household pasture production, have resulted in its enthusiastic adoption by herdsmen in several areas.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The sustainable development of grassland-livestock systems on the Tibetan plateau: problems, strategies and prospects

Gibb²,

et al. 2014

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Abstract. The Tibetan plateau is the source of most of the major rivers of Asia and has a huge impact on the livelihoods of the population, who have for centuries engaged in traditional herding practices. Sustainable management of the plateau is of critical importance not only for maintaining livelihoods but also because of its vital ecological function. The major problem of sustainable development in these grassland-livestock systems is the conflict between forage and livestock production. Despite considerable investment of manpower, material resources and capital over many years, attempts to resolve the problem have not been successful. The magnitude of conflict between forage and livestock is addressed by presenting 19 resolution strategies based on numerous research data. Each of these strategies is evaluated in terms of how it can be implemented, its potential benefits for livestock production, current progress and the requirement for further research. The 19 strategies have been divided into four topic categories, namely; grassland-forage, livestock, economy and market, societyculture, which cover the basic elements of sustainable development in this pastoral region. It is argued that improved planning and implementation of the proposed strategies must be based on the background investigation of natural and social status of the pastoral region. Particular attention needs to be given to genetic resources and technology in order to ensure the successful implementation of these proposals. In addition to expanding the use of 18 currently practiced strategies, the authors propose a further novel strategy of replacing the current intensive form of ecological migration with a model incorporating two semipermanent settlements. The objective of this novel strategy is to retain the nomadic element of pastoral husbandry while increasing the temporal and spatial scale of rotational stocking to reduce pasture degradation on the Tibetan plateau. It is argued that these proposals should be urgently incorporated into two national plans for the pastoral livestock industry, and the construction of an ecologically safe shelter zone on the Tibetan plateau, while ensuring a sustainable livelihood of its pastoral residents. Ensuring a successful implementation of these strategies in resolving the conflict between grassland and livestock, and promoting sustainable development on the Tibetan plateau, requires willing support at the level of national investment and policy commitment and from the herdsmen.

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“…For instance, recent academic studies have observed that group tenure, community cooperatives, and community-based management could be more effective for rangeland management (Banks et al, 2003;Cao et al, 2011;Fernández-Giménez et al, 2012;Zhang and Li, 2009).…”

Section: Rangeland Household Contract Policymentioning

confidence: 99%

China’s Rangeland Management Policy Debates: What Have We learned?

Gongbuzeren

2015

Rangeland Ecology & Management

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Differential Benefits of Multi- and Single-Household Grassland Management Patterns in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China

Abstract: Two grassland management patterns, multihousehold and single-household, have developed in the

Cited by 54 publications

References 19 publications

The Roles of Overgrazing, Climate Change and Policy as Drivers of Degradation of China's Grasslands

The Roles of Overgrazing, Climate Change and Policy as Drivers of Degradation of China's Grasslands

The sustainable development of grassland-livestock systems on the Tibetan plateau: problems, strategies and prospects

China’s Rangeland Management Policy Debates: What Have We learned?

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