Comparison Between the Sustainably- and Unsustainably-Managed Pastures: The Case of Urad-Middle Banner in Inner Mongolia, China

Abstract

In order to compare the herd size, income level, and the vegetation in the sustainably-managed grazing pasture with unsustainably-managed grazing pasture, this study selected the two pastures that receive heavy-load of camel population and other two pastures receiving light-load of camel herds. In desert having xerophyite Zygophyllum xanthoxylum, the pastures were classified into unsustainably-managed herdsman pasture (UHPZ) and sustainably-managed herdsman pasture (SHPZ). In addition, pastures were ccategorized into unsustainably-managed herdsman pasture (UHPK) and sustainably-managed herdsman pasture (SHPK) in deserts dominated by Krascheninnikovia ceratoides. The vegetation volume of Zygophyllum xanthoxylum at SHPZ, UHPZ and the gravelization sample at UHPZ is 1560 cm3, 480 cm3 and 4 cm3, respectively. On the other hand, the vegetation volume of Krascheninnikovia ceratoides at SHPK, UHPK and the gravelization sample at UHPK is 840 cm3, 510 cm3 and 8 cm3, respectively. In addition, the herdsmen grazing animals in UHPZ and UHPK responded almost no income obtained over the past five years. In conclusion, the vegetation situation and the income level of the sustainable-managed pasture are significantly better than the unsustainable-managed pastures. The local ecological community maybe the major player in decision-making in favour of the Indigenous people, pastures’ vegetation management, and the livelihoods.