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

3 Eco-tourism
<strong>and</strong> Nature Protection
in Relation to
<strong>Pastoralism</strong> <strong>and</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>
<strong>Management</strong>
3.1 From pastoral Economy to Rangel<strong>and</strong>
Economy: Capturing the Multi-Functionalities of
Rangel<strong>and</strong> Resources
Yi Shaoliang <strong>and</strong> Ismail Muhammad 11
Abstract
Traditional extensive use of the rangel<strong>and</strong>s for pastoralism is in itself wellmatched
with the ecological principles <strong>and</strong> non-equilibrium nature of the arid,
semi-arid or high-elevation temperate systems <strong>and</strong> is therefore compatible with
the objectives of nature conservation. However, the potential of the traditional
pastoral use for livestock production is always limited by the primary productivity
of the rangel<strong>and</strong>s ecosystem which has been witnessing increasing degradation
across the globe in recent decades. The sustainability <strong>and</strong> economic viability of
traditional pastoralism is further weakening as a result of growing population,
11 Both authors are affiliated with the International Center for Integrated Mountain
Development (ICIMOD), Kathm<strong>and</strong>u.
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