How can social and environmental services be provided for mobile Tibetan herders? Collaborative examples from Qinghai Province, China

J Marc Foggin,Marion E Torrance-Foggin

doi:10.1186/2041-7136-1-21

Abstract

Tibetan herders have lived for centuries in the high grasslands of Central Asia, yet many development programs are currently transforming their lives. One of the main assumptions of government policy, in China and around the world, is that the provision of social services is best provided in settled, urban environments. Such drastic changes from traditional pastoral livelihoods, however, may introduce some less-desired outcomes, including high levels of unemployment, loss of hope and cultural loss. Social stability may be affected, and in numerous instances it has been observed that the originally desired benefits (especially the provision of social services such as health care and education) have not been achieved. The case study presented here seeks to demonstrate that social services can be provided to Tibetan herding communities in rural (remote) areas of the Tibetan plateau, at the same time as encouraging and enabling genuine partnerships between local herders and higher-level conservation authorities such as the Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve. An analytical approach borrowed from 'participatory action research' and a modified 'balanced scorecard' framework has assisted in project evaluation. With the commitment of key stakeholders, and with sufficient time allowed for trust and understanding to develop, it is possible for various forms and styles of partnerships (collaborative management) to be developed, such that both national conservation goals as well as local development goals may be achieved simultaneously. Further trials of such a collaborative approach should be encouraged, leading to expanded application throughout the Sanjiangyuan region in the future.

Highlights

Situated in the centre of the Tibetan plateau, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in China is home to approximately 300,000 herders, farmers, and town dwellers
Project interventions The main interventions introduced in this paper are the project’s efforts (1) to improve access to and quality of education and health care for rural herding communities, and (2) to enhance genuine cooperation between governmental conservation authorities and local communities, such that both parties may benefit from such arrangements
Much current development policy in the area seeks to remove local herders from their traditional lands, in the belief that relocation and settlement of Tibetan herders will improve the government’s ability to provide social services and help to protect the environment. The former rationale, may be inadequate, as international experience has shown overall health and well-being of relocated/settled communities, especially of ethnic minorities, rarely to achieve expectations; and environmental conservation may best be achieved by working with local communities still residing in rural grassland areas

Summary

Introduction

Situated in the centre of the Tibetan plateau, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in China is home to approximately 300,000 herders (pastoralists, nomads), farmers, and town dwellers. From a human development perspective, working to promote such rural community development can help to improve local people’s well-being in situ as well as avoid some of the expected social costs (or challenges) generally associated with resettlement schemes In this context and for the above reasons, the authors have sought to trial and demonstrate, or otherwise support and improve, the provision of social services in rural grassland areas of Qinghai Province - and to encourage adoption of viable alternatives to some current approaches to development and modernization, with greater sensitivity to pressing socio-cultural concerns, hopes, and aspirations. Throughout the project, these pillars of sustainability repeatedly emerge, explicitly and implicitly, as critical to the emergence of more sustainable paradigms for regional development

Background

Findings

Discussion and conclusion