Map of the Gobi project area and study sites.

<p>Shows the names of the 6 districts where the study was conducted and the national park.</p

Analytical structure of the ecological assessment.

<p>Analytical structure of the ecological assessment.</p

Seasonal Biomass Growth (TI-NDVI).

<p>Shows how the 39 community pastures' seasonal growth in biomass compares to the 37 non-community controls (t-test = 2.103, df = 18, <i>p</i> = 0.05). Variation year-to-year is due to rainfall. Error bars = one standard error.</p

Ten-Year Seasonal Growth Curve Comparison (NDVI).

<p>Shows how the 10-year average growth of the 39 community pastures compares with the average from the 37 non-community matched control sites (t-test = 2.715, df = 18, <i>p</i> = 0.014). The community pastures had a longer growing season and higher peak NDVI and produced more biomass than the non-community control pastures. *Above 0.1 is when plants can be grazed <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0030991#pone.0030991-Zhou1" target="_blank">[26]</a>. Error bars = one standard error.</p

Ecological assessment sampling sites.

<p>Shows the 3,200 km driving track for the ecological assessment team and the 76 sampling sites where ground calibrations were conducted.</p

Summary of quantitative analysis results.

<p>Summary of quantitative analysis results.</p

Poverty focal areas.

<p>Poverty focal areas.</p

Cattle holder characteristics inside and outside the MTC.

<p>Cattle holder characteristics inside and outside the MTC.</p

Lowland area, 10-year average seasonal NDVI.

<p>Shows the 10-year average NDVI by the day of the year, with higher NDVI equaling greater grass biomass, and earlier greening and later senesce showing a longer growing season. “Lowland controls” shows the average of the control sites.</p

Location of villages included in the rural household survey and ecological sampling sites.

<p>Location of villages included in the rural household survey and ecological sampling sites.</p