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

much improved, the ecological environment better conserved <strong>and</strong> the living
<strong>and</strong> working conditions of farmers <strong>and</strong> herdsmen enhanced. With the issuance
the No. 4 Document by the CPC Central Committee <strong>and</strong> No. 42 Notice by
the Office of the State Council, Tibet faces some unprecedented development
opportunities in agriculture <strong>and</strong> pastoralism. Based on the local realities, Tibet
Autonomous Region Party Committee has laid out our strategy for economic
development, specifically increasing the production capacity of the primary
industry, focusing on key projects in the second industry <strong>and</strong> supporting all
developments of the third industry. With this strategy, the future directions of
agricultural <strong>and</strong> pastoral development are clearly pointed out. Meanwhile, the
completion of the Qinghai-Tibet railway <strong>and</strong> a large number of infrastructure
projects has resolved the traffic bottleneck that restricts economic <strong>and</strong> social
development of Tibet, exp<strong>and</strong>ing marketing channels for agricultural <strong>and</strong>
livestock products, strengthening Tibet’s communication <strong>and</strong> cooperation
with the outside world <strong>and</strong> bringing more opportunities for development in
agriculture <strong>and</strong> pastoralism.
2. We have consolidated the basis for agricultural development. After years
of exploration <strong>and</strong> practice, Tibetans have developed some clear ideas <strong>and</strong>
concepts on agriculture <strong>and</strong> pastoralism. More solid <strong>and</strong> effective measures
ensure that agriculture <strong>and</strong> pastoralism will not deviate from the correct course
of development. Through years of investment, infrastructure in agricultural
<strong>and</strong> pastoral areas has been greatly improved, enhancing the comprehensive
production capacity of agriculture <strong>and</strong> pastoralism <strong>and</strong> the ability to resist
natural disasters. We have laid a good foundation for the modernization of
agriculture <strong>and</strong> pastoralism. Accelerated pace of technological innovation <strong>and</strong>
continuous increase of farmer income has added vitality <strong>and</strong> vigour to the extraordinary
development of agriculture <strong>and</strong> pastoralism in Tibet. Meanwhile,
the historical process of building the new socialist countryside <strong>and</strong> the mighty
tide of market economy has stimulated liberation of thought on the part of
farmers <strong>and</strong> herdsmen. Profound changes have taken place in people’s mindsets
<strong>and</strong> in their awareness of market competition, income generation opportunities
<strong>and</strong> facilitation of science <strong>and</strong> technology. It will stimulate <strong>and</strong> motivate
farmers <strong>and</strong> herdsmen’s enthusiasm for agricultural <strong>and</strong> pastoral development.
3. We have the advantages of unique natural resources. Tibet has abundant
natural resources for agricultural <strong>and</strong> pastoral development. Tibet is crisscrossed
by rivers, lakes <strong>and</strong> rolling glaciers, creating abundant water resources. It is
known as the “Source of Rivers” <strong>and</strong> “Water Tower of Asia”. It ranks at the top
of the country in terms of per-capita, accumulative <strong>and</strong> per-unit ownership of
water resources, providing effective guarantee of water resources for agriculture
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