Adaptation by Herders on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in Response to Climate Change and Policy Reforms: The Implications for Carbon Sequestration and Livelihoods

Abstract

There are changes in livelihood strategies of five Tibetan herder communities in the face of climate change and government policies such as adjustments to use rights and restricted herder mobility. Data collection relied on a mixed-method approach, including household surveys and rural rapid appraisals (PRA). Results indicated that yak husbandry is the main source of livelihood and households have a restricted range of livelihood activities. Major coping strategies varied with production system and resource availability and options for mobility of herds. The perception of a majority of respondents was that land tenure reforms had led to creation of more bureaucracies, forced sedentarization, livelihood insecurity, collapse of pastoral adaptation, poverty, resource use conflicts and hindrance to long-term planning and permanent developments. There is need to amend strategies that threaten the environment and instead promote integration of community best practices initiatives in proven concepts of adaptation to climate change and livelihood vulnerability.