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

(2) Rangel<strong>and</strong> restoration serves the need of sustainable development of rangel<strong>and</strong>
pastoralism
A good ecological environment is the foundation of sustainable development
in rangel<strong>and</strong> pastoralism. Development of animal husb<strong>and</strong>ry depends on ecological
environmental protection <strong>and</strong> the prevention of degradation. Rangel<strong>and</strong>
pastoralism is the main pillar of the local economy in Xinjiang. Overgrazing
has had a serious impact on the natural regeneration of rangel<strong>and</strong> vegetation.
As a result, rangel<strong>and</strong> degradation is intensifying <strong>and</strong> seriously affecting the
economy. Therefore, grazing breaks, reseeding <strong>and</strong> other measures adopted in
large areas of the natural rangel<strong>and</strong>s can effectively improve per-unit grass yields,
increase vegetation coverage, relieve livestock-pasture conflicts, reduce grazing
pressures <strong>and</strong> restore <strong>and</strong> revive degraded rangel<strong>and</strong>s. These measures are also
conducive to curbing degradation, improving the ecological environment <strong>and</strong>
the development of high-quality, high-yield, <strong>and</strong> high-efficiency pastoralism in
Xinjiang. We should gradually transform the traditional grazing methods that
have been determined by natural elements; adopt the new science-based mode
of livestock production; transform traditional, extensive animal husb<strong>and</strong>ry into
modern, intensive livestock production <strong>and</strong> gradually enter a virtuous cycle.
(3) Rangel<strong>and</strong> restoration is a requirement for improving pastoralist production
conditions
Natural rangel<strong>and</strong> restoration is mainly about setting up fencing <strong>and</strong> railings
<strong>and</strong> reseeding. Fencing <strong>and</strong> reseeding play an irreplaceable role in protecting
<strong>and</strong> improving rangel<strong>and</strong>s, bettering productivity, enhancing grazing management,
<strong>and</strong> achieving ecological balance in the rangel<strong>and</strong>s. Although some cities
<strong>and</strong> counties in Xinjiang have been fencing their pastures, the initiative is still
far from popularized. Livestock production in some pastoral communities
still depends on traditional, extensive grazing. Many problems exist in the
management, protection <strong>and</strong> utilization of natural pastures <strong>and</strong> agro pastures,
including abusive grazing, degradation, reduced productivity <strong>and</strong> so on. In the
process of implementing the rangel<strong>and</strong> restoration project, measures such as
fence development, enhancement of self-repair <strong>and</strong> carrying capacity of vegetation
are important means to strengthening the protection <strong>and</strong> utilization of
natural rangel<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> ensuring the sustainable use of rangel<strong>and</strong> resources.
(4) The rangel<strong>and</strong> restoration project is implemented out of the need to maintain
social stability <strong>and</strong> promote social progress
In recent years, due to various natural <strong>and</strong> man-made factors, significant
degradation has occurred in natural rangel<strong>and</strong>s. Animal husb<strong>and</strong>ry faces deteriorating
conditions, in particular, frequent natural disasters. This has seriously
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