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

wet meadow, dry meadow <strong>and</strong> desert steppes in Mustang Himalaya. However,
only a few of them are important for grazing. Medicago falcata, M. sativa, M.
littoralis, M. truancutula, Pennisetum flaccidum, Elymus nutans, E. sibericus,
Agrostis sp., Carex sp., Kobresia sp., Poa sp., etc. are some of the forage species
occurring in the bunds, terraces <strong>and</strong> farml<strong>and</strong>s. Likewise, Caragana gerardiana,
C. brevispina, Astragallus sp., etc. are some of the important rangel<strong>and</strong> species
with grazing value that grow in the desert steppes between 2500 m to 4500 m.
Both these categories are indigenous to the area. However, a lot of emphasis
has been put on the introduction of exotic species, like white clover, red clover,
Cocksfoot, rye grass, etc. during the 1980s <strong>and</strong> 1990s. These were established
only under well-maintained watershed conditions but failed in water stressed
<strong>and</strong> high grazing areas. Therefore, indigenous species should be given high
priority for augmentation <strong>and</strong> increased coverage to cope with the dem<strong>and</strong> of
both animals <strong>and</strong> rural people.
3.1 Resources use Conflict
Because of the uniqueness of the society <strong>and</strong> the strong institutional structure
within the community, fewer conflicts over rangel<strong>and</strong> resources have been
observed in Mustang, in general <strong>and</strong> in Upper Mustang in particular. However,
due to heavy trade <strong>and</strong> the trafficking of animals from Tibetan Autonomous
Region (TAR) to the lowl<strong>and</strong>s of Nepal (e.g. Pokhara <strong>and</strong> Kathm<strong>and</strong>u), serious
problem have been caused over grazing resources. This is particularly true
in VDCs of Choser, Chhonup <strong>and</strong> Surkhang, as these are used as trafficking
routes for the animal trade. Reportedly, such animal trade is of two types.
One category includes young animals being purchased from TAR <strong>and</strong> reared
up to a marketable age in these areas <strong>and</strong> finally sold to the markets in Nepal.
The other category is the direct purchase of animals from TAR that are sold
within a month or so to the aforementioned markets. As reported by the farmers
concerned, the trade transaction goes up to 70,000 heads per year. The
intensity of such trade is highest during September <strong>and</strong> October. Such animal
trade exacerbates the on-going pressure on grazing resources in these areas.
Therefore, conflicts over resource uses arise between the two groups in the
community: traders <strong>and</strong> non-traders. In order to mitigate the situation, the
non-traders’ group suggested that all their rangel<strong>and</strong>s should be grouped into
two categories – summer <strong>and</strong> winter – depending on the aspect of slopes <strong>and</strong>
the amount of forage available. Animals <strong>and</strong> the use of resources should be
regulated by the concerned VDCs.
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> > > 3. Eco-tourism <strong>and</strong> Nature Protection in Relation to <strong>Pastoralism</strong> <strong>and</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong> <strong>Management</strong>