Li, Changling

Li, Wenjun

Li, Yanbo

Xie, Yina

Zhang, Qian

English

University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky UKnowledge International Grassland Congress Proceedings 21st International Grassland Congress / 8th International Rangeland Congress Distributed Overgrazing: A Key Cause of Grassland Degradation in Inner Mongolia Qian Zhang Peking University, China Wenjun Li Peking University, China Yina Xie Peking University, China Changling Li Peking University, China Yanbo Li Peking University, China Follow this and additional works at: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc  Part of the Plant Sciences Commons, and the Soil Science Commons This document is available at https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/21/6-1/45 The 21st International Grassland Congress / 8th International Rangeland Congress took place in Hohhot, China from June 29 through July 5, 2008. Proceedings edited by Organizing Committee of 2008 IGC/IRC Conference Published by Guangdong People's Publishing House This Event is brought to you for free and open access by the Plant and Soil Sciences at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in International Grassland Congress Proceedings by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact UKnowledge@lsv.uky.edu. 　 Multifunctional Grasslands in a Changing World 　 Volume Ⅰ 　 瞯 ]767　 瞯Grasslands/Rangelands Resources and Ecology ——— Reclamation of Grasslands/RangelandsDistributed overgrazing : a key cause of grassland degradation in Inner MongoliaQian Zhang , Wenj un L i , Y ina X ie , Changling L i and Y anbo L iCollege o f Env ironmental Sciences and Engineering (Room 310 , L aodixuelou Building) , Peking University , Bei j ing , P .R .China , 100871 . E‐mail : z hangqian824＠ gmail .com ; w j lee＠ pku .edu .cnKey words : degradation , overgrazing , distribution , Household Production Responsibility System , Inner MongoliaIntroduction The common perception that overgrazing is the main reason for grassland degradation in China , is based on asimple formulaic statement that total livestock population exceeds the carrying capacity of grassland ( SEPA , ２００１) . However ,the actual distribution of livestock has been consistently overlooked .Materials and methods Our case study site of Baiyintala Village ( Gacha) , is located in the low‐yielding desert grasslands ofnorthwestern Xilingol Prefecture , Inner Mongolia . Interviews were conducted with ２８ herders , or one third households in thisvillage , covering topics such as grassland utilization , availability of water resources and methods to combat drought .Results Whereas quantitative overgrazing , simply emphasizes that total livestock numbers exceed grassland carrying capacity ona large spatial‐temporal scale ( e .g . at the province or country , or for one year or longer) regardless of how these livestock areactually distributed within the grassland , distributed overgrazing describes overgrazing where the livestock population exceedsgrassland carrying capacity at a smaller spatial‐temporal scale ( e .g . a natural village or hot , or for one season or longer) andresults from change in abiotic factors , such as precipitation or the system of sedentary animal husbandry linked to HouseholdProduction Responsibility System ( HPRS) . There are five factors leading to distributed overgrazing : ( a) an uneven livestockdistribution among different households摧 grassland under HPRS ( Figure １ ) ; ( b ) increased impact of livestock resulting intrampling caused by shortage of drinking water and grassland ( the red line replaces the green line under HPRS in Figure ２ ) ;( c) imbalanced grassland use caused by a simple livestock structure ; ( d) over‐trampling on fixed routes for water on everyherder摧s grassland ; and ( d) overuse in drought when livestock cannot be moved under HPRS constraints .Figure 1 L ivestock distribution o f 28 samp led herders摧households in Baiy intala in 2006 .　 　Figure 2 Multip lied graz ing routes caused by H PRSimp lementation .Note : ( a) is hot be f ore H PRS and (b) is Bater摧s grasslanduse under H PRS .Conclusions Investigation of grassland use in the case study site indicates distributed overgrazing needs to be added to thecurrent explanation for grassland degradation which merely emphasizes total livestock population . The change in livestockdistribution under the HPRS has played an important role in grassland degradation .ReferenceState Environment Protection Administration ( SEPA ) . ２００１ Report on the State of Environment in China . Env ironmentalProtection . ６ (２００１) : ３‐１０ ( in Chinese) .N A 0e .8 @,:-:,@ . ~~ @)@ Legend •~ © GrazingR • t;;\r.:;,, @ @) ate(SSU/ha) v~ 0 0-0.207 00 • 0 0.207-0.414 @ • . 0.414-0621 .0828-1035 30 o (a) 

Distributed Overgrazing: A Key Cause of Grassland Degradation in Inner Mongolia

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Distributed Overgrazing: A Key Cause of Grassland Degradation in Inner Mongolia

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