|
|
Implication of coupled natural and human systems
in sustainable rangeland ecosystem management in HKH region |
Shikui DONG1,Lu WEN2,Lei ZHU2,Xiaoyan LI2, |
1.School of Environment,
Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China;Department of Natural
Resources, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853-3001, USA; 2.School of Environment,
Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; |
|
|
Abstract The sustainable development of rangeland ecosystems, the vital ecosystems providing many important ecosystem services for millions of people in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya region is presently confronted with a number of challenges. A coupled natural and human systems approach is needed to facilitate effective collaboration among social scientists, bio/physical scientists, and management practitioners to better understand how people interact with the environment in which they live. In pursuing this argument, three existing case studies, i.e. Indigenous rangeland management in Himalayan Nepal, Cultivated Grassland Systems in Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, and Grassland Restoration in Central Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau were synthesized in this paper to address the importance of coupled natural and human systems in promoting sustainable rangeland ecosystem management in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya (HKH) region. It was concluded although the research sites and objectives were very different, that these three case studies had many commonalities that addressed the complex interactions and feedbacks between natural and human systems, and highlighted the integration of various tools and techniques from the ecological and social sciences, as well as other disciplines, in sustainable rangeland management. These case studies have offered unique interdisciplinary insights into complexities that cannot be gained from ecological or social research alone. The results from these case studies can be applied to many other coupled systems at local, national, and global levels.
|
Keywords
natural and human systems
rangeland ecosystems
sustainable management Hindu Kush-Himalaya (HKH) region
|
Issue Date: 05 March 2010
|
|
|
Alirol P(1979). Transhumaning animal husbandry systems in KaligchowkRegion (Central Nepal). Swiss Associationfor Technical Assistance/Integrated Hill Development Project: Kathmandu,Nepal
|
|
Bao W Z, Shan W, Yang X D, Song H, Lan Y F(1998). Ecological crisisfaced by grassland resources and strategies in northern China. Grassland of China, (2): 68―71 (in Chinese)
|
|
Chand S P, Gurung B D, Rood P G(1991). Farmers’ traditional wisdom:where does it stand within the present agricultural research systemsof Nepal? Pakhribas Agricultural Centre(PAC) Occasional Paper No.4, Dhankuta, Nepal
|
|
Dong S K, Gao H W, Xu G C, Hou X Y, Long R J, Kang M Y, Lassoie P J(2007a). Farmerand professional attitudes to the large-scale ban on livestock grazingof grasslands in China. Environmental Conservation, 34 (3): 246―254
doi: 10.1017/S0376892907004213
|
|
Dong S K, Kang M Y, Long R J, Yun X J, Hu Z Z(2007b). Economic comparisonof annual crop, perennial pasture and native grassland forage productionin the alpine region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China. Grass and Forage Science, 62: 405―415
doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2494.2007.00594.x
|
|
Dong S K, Lassoie J P, Yan Z L, Sharma E, Shrestha K K, Pariya D(2007c). Indigenous rangeland resource managementin the mountainous areas of northern Nepal: a case study from theRasuwa District. The Rangeland Journal, 29: 149―160
doi: 10.1071/RJ07033
|
|
Dong S K, Long R J, Hu Z Z, Kang M Y, Pu X P(2003). Productivity andnutritive value of some cultivated perennial grasses and mixturesin the alpine region of the Tibetan Plateau. Grass and Forage Science, 58: 302―308
doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2494.2003.00382.x
|
|
Ives I D(1981). High mountains and plateaus: An excursion to the roofof the world. Mountain Research, 1: 79―83
doi: 10.2307/3672950
|
|
Li X L, Huang B N(1995). The causeof “Black Soil Patch” grassland in Qinghai Province andmanagement countermeasures. Grassland ofChina, 85(4): 64―67 (in Chinese)
|
|
Liu J, Dietz T, Carpenter S R, Alberti M, Folke C, Moran E, Pell A N, Deadman P, Kratz T, Lubchenco J, Ostrom E, Ouyang Z, Provencher W, Redman C L, Schneider S H, Taylor W W(2007a). Complexityof coupled human and natural systems. Science, 317(5844): 1513―1516
doi: 10.1126/science.1144004
|
|
Liu J, Dietz T, Carpenter S R, Folke C, Alberti M, Redman C L, Schneider S H, Ostrom, E, Pell A N, Lubchenco J, Taylor W W, Ouyang Z, Deadman P, Kratz T, Provencher W(2007b). Coupledhuman and natural systems. AMBIO: A Journalof the Human Environment, 36(8): 639―649
|
|
Ma Y S, Lang B N, Wang Q J(1999). Review and prospect of the studyon “Black Soil” deterioration grassland. Pratacultural Science, 16(2): 5―8 (in Chinese)
|
|
Miller D(1997a). Rangelands and range management. ICIMOD Newsletter, 27(Spring): 2―3
|
|
Miller D(1997b). Conservation biodiversity in the HKH rangelands. ICIMOD Newsletter, 27(Spring): 8―11
|
|
Naimer-Fuller M, Turner M T(1999). A reviewof recent literature on pastoralism and transhumance in Africa. In: Naimer-Fuller M ed. Managing Mobility in African Rangelands: The Legitimisation of Transhumance. Lodon: IntermediateTechnology Publications, 8―46
|
|
Schild A(2007). The mountain persepctive as an emerging element in theinternational development agenda. ICIMODNewsletter, 53(Winter): 5―8
|
|
Steinfeld H, De Haan C, Blackburn H(1997). Livestock-environment interactions:Issues and Options. FAO, Rome
|
|
Tamang D(1993). Challenges and opportunities in farm and community resourcemanagement in Nepal. In: Tamang D, Gill G J, Thapa G B eds. ‘Indigenous Management of Natural Resources in Nepal Tamang’.Proceeding of the Workshop on Indigenous Management of Agricultureand Natural Resources, Dhulikhel, Nepal, 1992, June8―9: 13―23
|
|
Wang J A, Xu X, Liu P F(1999). Land use and land carrying capacityin eco-tone between agriculture and animal husbandry in northern China. Resources Science, 21(5): 19―24 (in Chinese)
|
|
Xu Z X, Li Y Q(2002). Grasslanddegeneration and soil erosion. In: Hong F Z, Ren J Z eds. Progress of ModernPrataculture Science: Proceeding of China International GrasslandConference. Chinese Grassland Society, Beijing, China, 285―288 (in Chinese)
|
|
Yang R R(2002). Analysis on the causes of degradation and strategiesof sustainable development of grassland in Western China. Pratacultural Science, (1): 23―27 (in Chinese)
|
|
Zhou X M(2001). Kobresia Meadow of China. Beijing: Scientific Press of China (in Chinese)
|
|
Viewed |
|
|
|
Full text
|
|
|
|
|
Abstract
|
|
|
|
|
Cited |
|
|
|
|
|
Shared |
|
|
|
|
|
Discussed |
|
|
|
|