Approaches for alpine pasture management and sustainable use

Du Guozhen

State Key Lab for Arid Agro-Ecology

Lanzhou University

1. Basic facts and utilization status of alpine pasture

2. After contracting grassland to households

3. Successful attempts and recommendations

Outline

- Highlands- Abundant water resources- Good water reserve at the upper reaches of the Yellow River

1. Basic facts and utilization status of alpine pasture

1.1 Basic fact of the studied areas

• Topography and climate:

- Thick vegetation coverage

- Short growth period

- One of the areas that have the highest productivity of the first industry in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

1. Basic facts and utilization status of alpine pasture

1.1 Basic fact of the studied areas (cont’d)

•Vegetation:

•Social and cultural background:

- Transhumance in groups

- Unique traditional culture, history, religion and ecological ethics of their own nationalities.

1. Basic facts and utilization status of alpine pasture

1.1 Basic fact of the studied areas (cont’d)

Due to overgrazing and irrational use of pasture for a long time, ecological degradation is serious, which is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

1. Basic facts and utilization status of alpine pasture1.2 Current status of pasture use in the

studied areas

1) Productivity of pasture decreased:

Dry grass output per mu decreased from 300 kg in the 60’s to less than 100 kg.

1. Basic facts and utilization status of alpine pasture1.2 Current status of pasture use in the

studied areas (cont’d)

2) Severe rodent damage:

The number of rodents per hectare increased from 8 to 10 in the past to over 30.

1. Basic facts and utilization status of alpine pasture1.2 Current status of pasture use in the

studied areas (cont’d)

3)Proportion of poisonous grasses increased:

The proportion of poisonous grasses as Ligularia virgaurea (Maxim.) Mattf. has increased from less than 20% in 1979 to 40% to 60% at present.

1. Basic facts and utilization status of alpine pasture1.2 Current status of pasture use in the

studied areas (cont’d)

4) Exposed land surface increased:

The rate of exposed land surface increased from less than 10% in the past to 30% at present.

1. Basic facts and utilization status of alpine pasture1.2 Current status of pasture use in the

studied areas (cont’d)

The above reasons caused mortality of large number of livestock.

1. Basic facts and utilization status of alpine pasture1.2 Current status of pasture use in the

studied areas (cont’d)

Herders are longing for prosperity,

But due to degradation of the ecosystem, they feel utterly helpless.

1. Basic facts and utilization status of alpine pasture

Implications of grassland degradation? Due to various artificial interventions, the process

of obvious changes occurred to the structure and functions of the original ecosystem.

1. Basic facts and utilization status of alpine pasture

2. After contracting grassland to households

2. After contracting grassland to households

2.1 Labor intensity increased affecting schooling of children

2.2 Herders facing greater investment in

grassland (fencing)

2. After contracting grassland to households

2. After contracting grassland to households

2.3 Conflicts caused among villages and households

2.4 Difficulties caused to drinking water of human and livestock

2. After contracting grassland to households

3. Successful attempts and recommendations

Based on the problems, the State Key Laboratory of Arid Agricultural Ecology of Lanzhou University proposed recommendations to the governments at various levels and to the Oxfam Hong Kong.

3. Successful attempts and recommendations

In 1999, Oxfam Hong Kong provided about 2 million RMB to implement high efficiency livestock ecology demonstration and technological extension project of alpine pasture in Maqunima and Oula townships, the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) also provided some assistance.

3. Successful attempts and recommendations

During the three years of project implementation, participatory approach was upheld with involvement of herders, technological extension agents, researchers and government administrators, which has achieved significant social, ecological and economic benefits

3. Successful attempts and recommendations

3.1 Approaches

1) Project identification through participatory approach

3. Successful attempts and recommendations

2) Training

3. Successful attempts and recommendations

3.1 Approaches (cont’d)

• general features of alpine pasture

• current status of pasture use

• key issues in pasture improvement and protection

• planning and implementation plans for pasture use and improvement

• dynamic monitoring of pasture vegetation in time and space

3. Successful attempts and recommendations

3.1 Approaches (cont’d)

2 ） Training: technical training

• rationale, approaches, relations among stakeholders, labor division and information feedback mechanism for participatory management

• basic skills of technological extension at grassroots

• cooperation approaches and coordination methods of researcher, government officials, technological extension agents and herders.

• mechanism of transparent financial management related to the project

3. Successful attempts and recommendations

3.1 Approaches (cont’d)

2 ） Training: overall training:

• Roles and operational methods of simple technologies in grassland management

• Integration of use of indigenous knowledge and modern agricultural technologies

• Explain to herders the implications of participatory project management, and mobilize the enthusiasm of herders to participate in project management

• Explain to herders the important implications of upholding equality and democracy in the community in project implementation

3. Successful attempts and recommendations

3.1 Approaches (cont’d)

2 ） Training: training of herders

3) Participatory household identification

4) Participatory implementation

5) Participatory supervision and management

3. Successful attempts and recommendations

3.1 Approaches (cont’d)

1) Changes of cognition about pasture improvement

- Government administrator- Technological extension agents- Herders2) Improvement of management3) Capacity enhancement of

technological extension agents

3. Successful attempts and recommendations

3.2 Achievements

3.3 Example

3. Successful attempts and recommendations

Through participation, groups that have different pasture operation models formed new pasture use mechanism

3. Successful attempts and recommendations3.3 Example (cont’d)

Supporting the disadvantaged groups through participatory approach

3. Successful attempts and recommendations

• Stakeholders must jointly participation in project identification, implementation and management• Technological measures of grassland improvement must be consolidated with participatory management measures

3. Successful attempts and recommendations

3.4 Recommendations3.4 Recommendations

• Use and improve local norms to manage pasture by groups of households jointly

• Technological extension must have solid basic research as the theoretical support

3. Successful attempts and recommendations

3.4 Recommendations (cont’d)3.4 Recommendations (cont’d)

扎西德勒扎西德勒