Concession Management: Experimenting With Pastoralist-Led Wildlife Tourism in China's First National Park

Abstract

This ethnographic study explores the often-overlooked social and cultural impacts of wildlife tourism on Indigenous communities coexisting with wildlife. Focusing on the engagement of Tibetan pastoralists with wildlife tourism in Sanjiangyuan National Park, Qinghai Province, China, the study employs the theoretical framework of placemaking to examine the transition from traditional yak herding to active participation in wildlife tourism. This shift allows Tibetan pastoralists to redefine their relationships with ancestral lands, reimagine their identities and reshape their interactions with wildlife, thereby fostering a renewed sense of communal belonging and cultural continuity. In doing so, the research challenges the conventional dichotomy between modern conservation efforts and Indigenous cultural preservation, contributing to the limited literature on Indigenous-led wildlife tourism. The study further reveals that wildlife tourism can serve as a powerful avenue for both the preservation of cultural heritage and the promotion of ecological sustainability within Indigenous contexts. It advocates for conservation approaches that empower local communities to shape tourism practices in ways that respect their cultural traditions while also supporting ecological conservation.