Farmers and herders reclaim cropland to adapt to climate change in the eastern Tibetan Plateau: a case study in Zamtang County, China

Abstract

The Tibetan Plateau (TP) has experienced rapid warming since the 1980s. Previous studies, mainly based on theoretical models and remote sensing interpretation at regional scales, have revealed cropland expansion in high-altitude areas on the TP and identified the agro-pastoral transition zone as the major cropland expansion area. However, few studies have investigated whether farmers and herders reclaim cropland and which factors affect their reclamation decisions. This study aimed to investigate the impact of climate change on the decisions of farmers and herders regarding cropland reclamation in the eastern TP, with Zamtang County considered in a case study. By adopting the participatory rural appraisal method, data were collected from interviews with 169 households in Zamtang County, and the determinant factors of cropland reclamation decisions were examined with the assistance of a probit model. The results showed that (1) cropland reclamation increased from agricultural villages and agro-pastoral villages to pastoral villages with increasing altitude under the effects of climate warming and population pressure. Thus, this case study confirmed the findings of previous studies based on theoretical models and remote sensing interpretation. (2) The perception of changes in precipitation and spring frost, borrowed money, and government subsidies imposed significant negative effects on the reclamation decisions of farmers and herders. The income obtained from gathering Cordyceps fungi, distance from residence to town, and number of plots attained significant positive correlations with reclamation decisions. This study provides a reference for local governments regarding the implementation of measures to promote the livelihood transition of farmers and herders, which could help relieve population pressure and reduce the ecological risks related to cropland reclamation.