Changing Pastoralism and Pastoral Livelihoods Under Climate Change in Northwestern China

The livelihood of pastoralists is strongly influenced and partially determined by regulatory grazing limitations and global climate change. It was assumed that the challenges associated with the latter factor would invariably obligate and motivate herders to practice sustainable animal husbandry. However, the former factor also incentivizing adaptive changes in the agricultural practices of herders and pastoralists as well. The present study investigated changes in the management practices that rural pastoralists have made to ensure the sustainable maintenance of their livelihood in the face of strict public policy and climate risks. Surveys were conducted in two pastoral counties of northwestern China in a region subjected to frequent annual drought events and low wintertime temperatures. This region has already undergone numerous institutional changes within the last few decades. The results of the field research indicated that farmers in both counties have modified their livelihood patterns and nomadic practices in response to regulatory and climate change. Five new adaptive livelihood patterns were identified among the agricultural workers in the study area. The novel adaptive farming practices assumed by herders were intended to cope with the tension between the requirement for environmental protection and the need for socioeconomic development. The specificity of this research helps clarify how local communities change their livelihood patterns in response to ecosystem degradation and policy modifications resulting from climate change, and enrich the understanding of the actions for dealing with climate change under the individual perspective

Division of the water-saving crop planning system in the Heihe River basin

Instituting water-saving crop planning (WSCP) is an effective way for the Heihe River basin to reverse its current growing scarcity of water resources and continuing environmental deterioration. However,because different areas of the river basin have different natural resources and diverse social and economic conditions, the planting structure for the region must be divided before the optimal adjustment of WSCP. The influencing factors for this division are chosen based on the analysis of the WSCP system. The appropriate indicators are selected from the overall influencing factors according to the existing hydro-meteorological, socio-economic and agricultural water conservancy conditions in each county in the river basin. Several unrelated main components that reflect most information from the original variables are extracted using factor analysis (FA) with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software and are then clustered using the K-means clustering algorithm (KMCA). Based on the clustering results, the basin is divided into six subzones: (1) Forage grass with dry farming, (2) grain and cash crops with rain-fed irrigation, (3) grain and cash crops with irrigation, (4) fruits and vegetables with irrigation, (5) cash crops with irrigation and (6) forage grass and cash crops with irrigation. Suitable development programs for each subzone were then drafted. This method avoids the overlap of related variables, reduces the difficulty of treatment and is convenient for indicator selection and information collection.Keywords: Division of water-saving crop planning, Heihe River basin, factor analysis, K-means clustering algorith

Sustainable Use of Soils and Water: The Role of Environmental Land Use Conflicts

This book on the sustainable use of soils and water addressed a variety of issues related to the utopian desire for environmental sustainability and the deviations from this scene observed in the real world. Competing interests for land are frequently a factor in land degradation, especially where the adopted land uses do not conform with the land capability (the natural use of soil). The concerns of researchers about these matters are presented in the articles comprising this Special Issue book. Various approaches were used to assess the (im)balance between economic profit and environmental conservation in various regions, in addition to potential routes to bring landscapes back to a sustainable status being disclosed

Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability-Volume 1

Climate change has been widely recognised as a major challenge to the world, with significant environmental, economic and social consequences. Given this, addressing climate change is an urgent and profound task of society, a complex and difficult mission of several generations. To address the challenge of climate change, there is a need to develop a holistic climate change mitigation and adaptation framework that can cover as many climate-related topics as possible and connect as many stakeholders as possible across the globe. This book is an important one, bringing together key climate-related topics, including climate-induced impact assessment, environmental vulnerability and resilience assessment, greenhouse gas emission dynamics and sequestration, climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in addition to climate-related governance. Results reported in this book are conducive to a better understanding of the climate emergency, climate-related impacts and the solutions. We expect the book to benefit decision makers, practitioners and researchers in different fields such as climate modelling and prediction, forest ecosystems, land management, urban planning and design, urban governance in addition to institutional operation. Prof. Bao-Jie He acknowledges Project NO. 2021CDJQY-004, supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities. We appreciate the assistance from Mr. Lifeng Xiong, Mr. Wei Wang, Ms. Xueke Chen and Ms. Anxian Chen at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Chongqing University, China

Tibetan Market Participation in China

Since the Chinese government began implementing economic reforms in the late 1970s, China has experienced profound economic change and growth. Like other parts of China, Tibetan areas of China have also experienced wide-ranging economic change with growth even higher than the China-wide average in certain years. Though China s strategic policy of developing the West provided many opportunities for economic and business activities, Tibetans have proven poorly equipped to respond to and take advantage of these opportunities. This study is about people, about market participation and specifically about why Tibetans do not effectively participate in the market in the context of China s economic development process. Many political, social, cultural and environmental factors explain the difficulties met by Tibetan communities. However, this study focuses on three factors: the social and culture context, government policy and education. The Buddhistic nature of Tibetan communities, particularly the political and economic system in traditional Tibetan society, explains this, especially after implementation of new national economic policies. An inclusive economic development policy that promotes local people s participation in the market demands serious consideration of local conditions. Unfortunately, such considerations often ignore local Tibetan realities. The economic development policy in Tibetan areas in China is nearly always an attempt to replicate the inland model and open up markets, even though economic and sociopolitical conditions in Tibet are markedly unlike much of China. A consequence of these policies is increasing numbers of non-Tibetan migrants flowing into Tibetan areas with the ensuing marginalization of Tibetans in the marketplace. Poor quality education is another factor contributing to Tibetan inability to effectively participate in the market. Vocational and business education targeting Tibetans is of very low quality and reflective of government failing to consider local circumstances when implementing education policy. The relatively few Tibetans who do receive education are nearly always unable to compete with non-Tibetan migrants in commercial activity. Encouraging and promoting Tibetan participation in business development and access to quality education are crucial for a sustainable and prosperous society in the long term. Particularly, a localized development policy that considers local environmental conditions and production as well as local culture is crucial. Tibet s economic development should be based on local environmental and production conditions, while utilizing Tibetan culture for the benefit of creating a sustainable economy. Such a localized approach best promotes Tibetan market participation. Keywords: Tibet cultural policy education market participationSen jälkeen, kun Kiinan kansantasavallan hallinto alkoi 1970-luvun lopulla toteuttaa talousuudistuksia maassaan, on taloudellinen muutos ja kasvu ollut syvällistä. Kuten Kiinan muissakin osissa, tiibetiläisten asuttamilla alueilla on tapahtunut ajoittain jopa valtakunnallista keskiarvoa vahvempaa taloudellista kasvua. Kiinan strateginen ohjelma länsiosiensa kehittämiseksi on luonut lisää mahdollisuuksia liiketoimintaan ja yrittämiseen näillä alueilla. Tiibetiläiset eivät itse kuitenkaan ole olleet kovin valmiita näiden mahdollisuuksien hyödyntämiseen. Tämä tutkimuksen aiheena on ihmiset, heidän markkinoihin osallistumisensa ja erityisesti se, miksi tiibetiläiset eivät pysty osallistumaan tehokkaasti Kiinan kasvaviin markkinoihin. Tutkimus keskittyy kolmeen näitä vaikeuksia selittävään tekijään: sosiaaliseen ja kulttuuriseen kontekstiin, hallituksen ajamaan politiikkaan sekä koulutukseen. Ongelman taustalla voidaan nähdä tiibetiläisten yhteisöjen buddhalainen perusluonne sekä etenkin perinteisen tiibetiläisen yhteiskunnan poliittinen ja taloudellinen järjestelmä suhteessa keskushallinnon uusiin taloudellisiin linjauksiin. Vain paikalliset olosuhteet huomioiva talouspolitiikka voisi edistää paikallisen väestön osallistumista markkinoihin. Valitettavasti Kiinan taloudellinen kehityspolitiikka tiibetiläisellä alueilla on yleensä vain yritys toistaa Kiinan ydinalueilla toteutettua mallia avaamalla markkinoita, vaikka Tiibetin taloudelliset ja sosiaalipoliittiset olosuhteet ovat merkittävästi erilaiset kuin varsinaisessa Kiinassa. Näiden poliittisten toimenpiteiden seurauksena tiibetiläisille alueille on saapunut yhä enemmän ei-tiibetiläisiä siirtolaisia, mistä puolestaan on seurannut tiibetiläisten marginaalistuminen markkinoilla. Toinen tekijä, joka vaikuttaa tiibetiläisten heikkoon markkinoihin osallistumiseen, on matala koulutustaso. Tiibetiläisille suunnattu ammatillinen ja liiketaloudellinen koulutus on heikkolaatuista heijastaen hallinnon kyvyttömyyttä ottaa koulutuspolitiikassaan huomioon paikalliset olosuhteet. Ne harvat tiibetiläiset, jotka koulutuksen piirissä ovat, eivät yleensä pysty kilpailemaan ei-tiibetiläisten siirtolaisten kanssa kaupallisessa toiminnassa. Kestävän kehityksen ja hyvinvoinnin kannalta olisi pitkällä aikavälillä tärkeää edistää tiibetiläisten osallistumista liike-elämään. Paikallisolosuhteisiin sovellettu ja kulttuuritekijät huomioiva kehitysstrategia olisi ratkaisevan tärkeä. Tiibetin taloudellisen kehityksen tulisi perustua paikallisiin luonnonolosuhteisiin ja elinkeinorakenteeseen. Myös tiibetiläisestä kulttuuriperinnöstä voitaisiin ottaa vaikutteita kestävän talouden luomiseen. Tällainen lokalisoitu lähestymistapa parhaiten edistäisi tiibetiläisten osallistumista markkinoihin. Avainsanat: Tiibet, kulttuuripolitiikka, koulutus, markkinoihin osallistumine

Overcoming the last obstacle in sustainable rural development of Monsoon Asia : the Japanese and Chinese models and a proposed new model

Defence date: 6 February 1998Examining Board: Prof. Michael Artis, European University Institute; Prof. Stuart Holland, ARES, London, Supervisor; Prof. Christopher Howe, School of Oriental and African Studies London; Prof. Domenico Mario Nuti, London Business School, Co-supervisorFirst made available online 26 June 2017-- Part 1 Theories -- Introduction -- Theories of dualism, the monsoon asia rice economy and variable mixed economies -- Theory of property rights -- Part 2 Comparative practical studies -- The Japanese model versus the last obstacle -- The Chinese model versus the last obstacl

Low-cost household water treatment: A techno-behavioural intervention for local sustainable development in Afghanistan

Access to safe drinking water is a critical global challenge, in remote rural areas and urban centres alike. A pressing concern within this challenge lies in the sustainability of groundwater and the livelihoods reliant on it. However, a comprehensive study of such a complex issue as water insecurity requires a multidisciplinary approach that can synthesize perspectives from the natural and social sciences. With the overarching aim of studying and developing means to rectify water insecurity in low-income settings, this thesis pursues such an approach and contributes insights to the broader global dialogue through the case of the conflict-affected urban context of Kabul – where groundwater and livelihood challenges are driven especially by the contamination and rapid depletion of the local aquifers. The multidisciplinary study begins with a geo-hydrology perspective that explores the sources of groundwater and the factors contributing to groundwater contamination. Additionally, it explores the potential of using clay disc filters for household water treatment from an earth sciences perspective. Complementing these natural science perspectives, the research also incorporates the COM-B framework, which draws from psychology and behavioural science. By leveraging anthropological techniques with a firm grounding in development research, the thesis further adopts a bottom-up approach to inform survey research. Translating this multidisciplinary approach into the empirical research underlying this thesis, firstly, the groundwater recharge sources and groundwater dynamics in aquifers of Kabul city were explored relying on the analysis of the stable isotopic composition (δ18O and δ2H) of groundwater and surface water from the Upper Kabul River and Logar River. The results showed that precipitation was the primary source of recharge in the Central Kabul sub-basin, while mixed recharge from the river, precipitation, and irrigation return flow governed recharge in the Logar sub-basin. In the Paghman and Lower Kabul, and Upper Kabul sub-basins, increased rainfall input was also observed. The contribution of river water to groundwater recharge decreased from an average of over 60% in 2007 to less than 50% in 2020. Also, substantial groundwater level depletion was documented in the Central Kabul sub-basin and western parts of the city. In addition to examining recharge sources and rates, the bacteriological and chemical characteristics of Kabul’s groundwater were analyzed. In Kabul, 4.1 million people rely on groundwater, making it critical to understand its contamination trends in the face of rapid development and social changes. The results showed an increase in E. coli and NO3-, indicating anthropogenic impacts on shallow groundwater quality. The Water Quality Index revealed that less than 35% of shallow groundwater samples had good quality. To address these issues, the implementation of point-of-use water purification was proposed as a temporary solution for reducing the occurrence of waterborne diseases. Moreover, a qualitative study, based on 68 semi-structured interviews, explored the factors limiting access to clean drinking water in two peri-urban areas in Kabul. These factors included dysfunctional water supply networks, water price inequalities, uneven development, and aid prioritization. In addition, the stressors and dynamic access to water such as droughts, contamination, and electricity disruption were documented. Further, this research examined the nature and underlying factors of inter-household water-sharing practices. Water availability, the costs to the donor, the frequency of requests for water, the period over which they operate, and religious beliefs were all found to play key roles in determining water-sharing practices. The added influence of droughts in limiting water-sharing practices further highlighted the dynamics in performing the behaviour. Furthermore, this research explored the factors that influence household water treatment practices, relied on a comprehensive behaviour change model (i.e., COM-B model). The results of the study showed that reflective and automatic motivation, as well as physical opportunity, had a statistically significant association with the performance of household water treatment behaviour. The findings suggest that socioeconomic, psychosocial, and contextual factors are all important in understanding and promoting household water treatment practices, and should be taken into account to develop interventions that are tailored to the specific needs and obstacles of different communities. Lastly, the potential of using clay disc filters, frequently termed ceramic water filters, made from locally-sourced clay samples, was explored for removing bacteria from water. The clay discs were produced by mixing clay and sorted sawdust in a ratio of 1:2, and the filtration rate was 1 litre per hour. Clay disc filters have the potential to be a low-cost and locally-sourced solution for improving water quality in Afghanistan, but further research and development is needed to optimize their production, particularly by leveraging the skills of local potters in Kabul. Overall, the synergistic combination of disciplinary techniques was thus capable of shedding light on the complex interplay between water resources, technology, and human behaviour (i.e., household water treatment) and provided a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and solutions surrounding access to safe drinking water