Adaptive Strategies Adopted by Herders Against the Decollectivization of Rangeland in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau in China
The domestication of the yak on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau probably dates back to 7300 years ago, when the rangelands were also utilized for cultivation. Over time, a complete system of herding and rangeland management developed. In recent years, however, the rangeland contract policy and nomadic s...
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| Format: | Article |
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International Mountain Society
2019-11-01
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| Series: | Mountain Research and Development |
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| Online Access: | https://bioone.org/doi/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-19-00034.1 |
| _version_ | 1819204463536111616 |
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| author | Yang Zhe Jiu Cili Ruth H. Mace Du Juan Bai Pengpeng Du Guozhen |
| author_facet | Yang Zhe Jiu Cili Ruth H. Mace Du Juan Bai Pengpeng Du Guozhen |
| author_sort | Yang Zhe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The domestication of the yak on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau probably dates back to 7300 years ago, when the rangelands were also utilized for cultivation. Over time, a complete system of herding and rangeland management developed. In recent years, however, the rangeland contract policy and nomadic settlement project have reduced the mobility of herds through the decollectivization of the rangeland. This process has destroyed the traditional nomadic lifestyle and caused difficulties, forcing the herders to adapt to new ways. This paper considers 3 issues: (1) the implementation of the contract policy and the settlement project—2 important policies that have caused the decollectivization of rangeland on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau; (2) the effects of the 2 policies on herding at 2 sites; and (3) the adaptive strategies employed by herders against the constraints of the policies. The study incorporates a literature review, fieldwork, key-person interviews, and focus group discussions. Community-based self-management of the rangeland appears to be the best strategy for herders. Policies such as group herding can help herders increase herd mobility, which is crucial for sustainably raising livestock on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T04:36:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d7552553f292458ea726d6e1d8127ebd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0276-4741 1994-7151 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T04:36:13Z |
| publishDate | 2019-11-01 |
| publisher | International Mountain Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Mountain Research and Development |
| spelling | doaj.art-d7552553f292458ea726d6e1d8127ebd2022-12-21T17:59:54ZengInternational Mountain SocietyMountain Research and Development0276-47411994-71512019-11-01394D11D20https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-19-00034.1Adaptive Strategies Adopted by Herders Against the Decollectivization of Rangeland in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau in ChinaYang Zhe0Jiu Cili1Ruth H. Mace2Du Juan3Bai Pengpeng4Du Guozhen5State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshuinan Road, 730000, Lanzhou, Gansu, People's Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshuinan Road, 730000, Lanzhou, Gansu, People's Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshuinan Road, 730000, Lanzhou, Gansu, People's Republic of China; Department of Anthropology, University College London, 14 Taviton Street, London WC1H 0BW, United KingdomState Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshuinan Road, 730000, Lanzhou, Gansu, People's Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshuinan Road, 730000, Lanzhou, Gansu, People's Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshuinan Road, 730000, Lanzhou, Gansu, People's Republic of China; guozdu@lzu.edu.cnThe domestication of the yak on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau probably dates back to 7300 years ago, when the rangelands were also utilized for cultivation. Over time, a complete system of herding and rangeland management developed. In recent years, however, the rangeland contract policy and nomadic settlement project have reduced the mobility of herds through the decollectivization of the rangeland. This process has destroyed the traditional nomadic lifestyle and caused difficulties, forcing the herders to adapt to new ways. This paper considers 3 issues: (1) the implementation of the contract policy and the settlement project—2 important policies that have caused the decollectivization of rangeland on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau; (2) the effects of the 2 policies on herding at 2 sites; and (3) the adaptive strategies employed by herders against the constraints of the policies. The study incorporates a literature review, fieldwork, key-person interviews, and focus group discussions. Community-based self-management of the rangeland appears to be the best strategy for herders. Policies such as group herding can help herders increase herd mobility, which is crucial for sustainably raising livestock on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau.https://bioone.org/doi/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-19-00034.1adaptive strategiesherdingnomadic settlement projectqinghai–tibetan plateaurangeland contract policyrangeland decollectivization |
| spellingShingle | Yang Zhe Jiu Cili Ruth H. Mace Du Juan Bai Pengpeng Du Guozhen Adaptive Strategies Adopted by Herders Against the Decollectivization of Rangeland in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau in China Mountain Research and Development adaptive strategies herding nomadic settlement project qinghai–tibetan plateau rangeland contract policy rangeland decollectivization |
| title | Adaptive Strategies Adopted by Herders Against the Decollectivization of Rangeland in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau in China |
| title_full | Adaptive Strategies Adopted by Herders Against the Decollectivization of Rangeland in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau in China |
| title_fullStr | Adaptive Strategies Adopted by Herders Against the Decollectivization of Rangeland in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau in China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adaptive Strategies Adopted by Herders Against the Decollectivization of Rangeland in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau in China |
| title_short | Adaptive Strategies Adopted by Herders Against the Decollectivization of Rangeland in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau in China |
| title_sort | adaptive strategies adopted by herders against the decollectivization of rangeland in the qinghai tibetan plateau in china |
| topic | adaptive strategies herding nomadic settlement project qinghai–tibetan plateau rangeland contract policy rangeland decollectivization |
| url | https://bioone.org/doi/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-19-00034.1 |
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