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

pastures in summer from winter camp sites with areas of less economic interest
lying in between. Sometimes spring <strong>and</strong>/or autumn pastures were frequented
when suitable forage was accessible.
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(m)
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3000
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Classical mountain nomadism
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Figure 3: Classical mountain nomadism
Projected on the Tibetan Plateau, “classical mountain nomadism” (Figure 3)
with functional migration cycles can be established in a historical context:
longer stays in high-altitude pastures during summer alternate with winter
grazing in low-lying basins in the northern foothills or on the plateaux within
the Tibetan steppe.
In both areas the nomads are dependent on being tolerated as a mobile group
– this general feature is of less concern here as the regions of contest are spatially
quite distinct – <strong>and</strong> being able to pay the grazing fees if applicable. Their
self-image of the brog’pa 37 is strongly linked to their specialisation in animal
husb<strong>and</strong>ry (Photo 3) <strong>and</strong> comm<strong>and</strong> of techniques that are missing in other
37 Gruschke (2008: 14): “The ’brog pa’s self-image, as Goldstein <strong>and</strong> Beall [1990: 64] have
noted, is primarily built on being pastoralists in marked contrast to the people practicing
farming. Their self-conception does not correspond to our western notion in which
moving herds or living in tents “belongs” to their concept of being nomads – the term
that is generally used as the English translation of ’brog pa. Yet, animal husb<strong>and</strong>ry has to
be the main determinant of their production activities <strong>and</strong> mobility, <strong>and</strong> thus determines
what they underst<strong>and</strong> as a way of life. This way of life is actually practiced, <strong>and</strong> it does
not merely function as a value orientation. In addition to raising livestock, many other
activities, such as trading, hunting, gathering <strong>and</strong> farming may also be practiced without
definitely changing the pastoralists’ self-image as ’brog pa, ….” Cf. Miller 2008.