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

5.2 Integrating Agricultural <strong>and</strong> Pastoral
Resources for Poverty Alleviation <strong>and</strong> Reducing
Eco-pressure on Rangel<strong>and</strong>s
Wang Jian 53
Abstract
Today people are paying more attention to pastoralism <strong>and</strong> rangel<strong>and</strong> management
on the Tibetan Plateau not because of the delicious meat <strong>and</strong> milk
produced there, nor the attractive scenery, but rather because of its changed
function as a global ecological shelter. The livelihoods of pastoralists who have
lived here for generations are relatively weak <strong>and</strong> large herds are putting increasing
pressure on the rangel<strong>and</strong> ecosystem. It all happened under the backdrop of
the government’s continued efforts to promote the development of the plateau
pastoralist communities. This means that we have to reflect on the mode of operation
in pastoralism that is characterized by poverty, underdevelopment <strong>and</strong>
a lack of eco-friendliness. This article aims to propose suggestions for pastoral
practices that utilize the resources of agricultural communities to help reduce
poverty in pastoralist communities by first re-conceptualizing traditional
pastoralism, then analyzing the causes of poverty in pastoral areas <strong>and</strong> lastly
studying the specific case of an integrated agricultural-pastoral development
model <strong>and</strong> its feasibility.
1 Introduction
In Nagqu Prefecture of Tibet, between May <strong>and</strong> June of 2008, an untimely
snowfall delayed the grass from turning green. The subsequent lack of fodder
became the last straw that destroyed the already weak herds. 260,000 heads of
cattle withered away. Local pastoralists suffered an economic loss of hundreds
of millions of Yuan. After the disaster, what did we do? Did we do anything to
prepare ourselves for the next big disaster? Obviously we can’t say that nothing
was done. In the past two years, the government completed the construction of
houses for the pastoralist resettlement programme <strong>and</strong> the sheds for livestock
<strong>and</strong> fodder. The government continues to support the restoration of pasture
<strong>and</strong> fencing projects. Small-scale cultivation of pastures is being carried out.
In addition, a pilot programme of payment for rangel<strong>and</strong> ecosystem services
53 Poverty Alleviation Office of TAR, Lhasa
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