Pastoralism and Rangeland Management on the Tibetan Plateau in ...

Welcome Address by Jürgen Richter, InWEnt 2
The conference on “<strong>Pastoralism</strong> <strong>and</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong> <strong>Management</strong> on the Tibetan
Plateau in the Context of Climate <strong>and</strong> Global Change” is part of InWEnt’s
mountain development programme. Climate <strong>and</strong> global change seem to be the
two dominant features of transformation that pose challenges to all communities
<strong>and</strong> societies. The environments at the limits of human habitation that
are characterized by extreme thermal <strong>and</strong>/or hydraulic conditions – such as
deserts, steppes <strong>and</strong> high mountain regions – might be affected to a higher
degree by any kind of change than the more moderately configured areas on
earth. Therefore, the Tibetan Plateau is of prime interest <strong>and</strong> in the focus of
research when the underst<strong>and</strong>ing of change processes is at stake.
It is a great pleasure to be back in Lhasa after a period of six years. The theme
of climate <strong>and</strong> global change poses an ideal portfolio when applied to the vast
steppes of the Changtang plateau <strong>and</strong> the Himalayan Mountains. Pastoral
strategies occupy the largest space for human activities to make a living based
on local resources.
This conference is the second in a dual set of regional conferences that address
the issue of pastoralism <strong>and</strong> rangel<strong>and</strong> management. They are complementary
in a spatial <strong>and</strong> a thematic sense. The first one was successfully held in July
2010 in Khorog <strong>and</strong> Kashgar. Highlighting pastoral practices in the Pamirs,
Hindukush, Karakoram <strong>and</strong> Kun Lun Shan the rugged mountains of the
western project area were investigated. Today we shift our focus to the Tibetan
Plateau where vast <strong>and</strong> high-lying tracts offer the space for pastoral activities.
Here in Lhasa we continue our well-established efforts to convene experts <strong>and</strong>
colleagues for a mutual exchange <strong>and</strong> learning experiment. Again we have
invited eminent professionals with varying expertise, well-versed development
practitioners with vast experience <strong>and</strong> qualified scientists with a sound academic
background. These participants contribute from their work experience
on the Tibetan Plateau <strong>and</strong> from neighbouring mountain ranges.
In its mountain development programme in Asia InWEnt has selected a
comprehensive approach that is based on training programmes, conferences
<strong>and</strong> workshops including exposures to field experiences. To implement such
a programme a number of partners that share similar aspirations <strong>and</strong> visions
is required. With our partners in China, Nepal, Pakistan <strong>and</strong> Tajikistan we
have jointly created such a common ground that provides us with a platform to
2 On 1 January 2011, InWEnt became part of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
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