Past, present and future: Rangelands in China

Abstract

Rangelands of western China have historically supported a pastoral economy and large wildlife populations, but recent social, political, and economic changes are affecting pastoralists and wildlife. We examined rangeland issues and concerns in Jianshe Township of Aksai Kazak Autonomous County, in western Gansu Province, People's Republic of China (Jianshe, hereafter) during 1997-2000 as part of a larger study examining argali and domestic sheep interactions. Our rangeland study included a rapid rangeland reconnaissance and interviews with pastoralists and local government officials on their perspectives on changes and issues. Livestock production from extensive rangelands is the primary economic activity within Jianshe, but these same rangelands are also habitat to a number of important wild species including argali, wild yak, and snow leopard. Balancing domestic livestock production, while maintaining healthy wild populations of large mammals, is a concern of local government officials. Here, we provide an overview of Jianshe, describe its rangelands, current and historical practices of Kazak pastoralists, and discuss issues and concerns related to the conservation of this area.