The dynamic change of herdsmen well-being and ecosystem services in grassland of inner Mongolia: Take Xilinguole league as example

Abstract

The relationship between ecosystem services and human well-being involves human activities and the formation of unity between nature, the economy and society. Human activities fall under the economic category, while society incorporates human well-being, with ecosystem services provided by natural systems. Human activities have caused changes in steppe ecosystem services in recent years, leading to a significant impact on the basic living standard and productivity of local herdsmen, with subsequent effects on their well-being. In addition to being the source of livelihood and sustenance for farmers and herdsmen, the grasslands of Inner Mongolia are also an important green ecological barrier in northern China, vital for maintaining the supply of fresh water, sustaining the regional carbon and nitrogen cycle, and preventing desertification. Although grassland degradation has been considered a serious environmental problem in Inner Mongolia for decades, a rigorous evaluation of its ecosystem service and human well-being is still lacking. In this paper we develop a series of indices to evaluate human well-being, using Xilinguole League, a significant area in Inner Mongolia, as a case study. In combination with statistical data on the local natural environment and economy, a questionnaire survey was taken the changes in ecosystem services and the well-being of the herdsmen. The level of well-being of the herdsmen was calculated in 2001 and again in 2010. The results indicate that the level of well-being increased by about 30.1% during the study interval, from 47. 8 in 2001 to 61. 5 in 2010. During the past ten years, changes in income and resource acquisition have played important roles in the improvement of the herdsmen ' s well-being, with a contribution to the total change in well-being of 62.89% and 26.12%, respectively. Decreased productivity was the main reason for the reduction in the income of herdsmen, while compulsory education, rural co-operation medical insurance and eco-compensation, all increased health, safety and other aspects of well-being. The increase in crime rates, divorce rates and the decrease in air quality were the main factors in the reduction of well-being levels. The provision of ecosystem services is closely related to well-being. Some human activities, fuelled by increased demand, such as over-grazing, deforestation, coal mining, etc., change ecosystem services and can have a large impact on human health and well-being. In order to further improve human well-being, an alternative mode of animal husbandry should be developed. Readjustment of economic structures, and the reasonable use and effective protection of natural resources are necessary to achieve sustainable development and an increase in the income of herdsmen. Grassland ecological protection policies should continue to be implemented in order to restore the grassland ecosystem services. Eco-compensation in grassland habitats is one of the ways to increase income, although herdsmen hope remains that the government will improve the standard of compensation. Multiple financing channels for improved ecological compensation are important to increase the well-being of herdsmen, protect the ecological environment of grassland, and maintain social stability. Understanding how changes in the ecosystem services affect human well-being, what degree and via what mechanism, requires more precise data, and will be the focus of future work.