Article scientifique
Sécheresse 2006 ; 17 (1-2) : 142-51
Transformation of traditional pastoral livestock systems on the Tibetan steppe
Dennis P. Sheehy1 Abstract Daniel Miller2* 3 The rangelands of the Tibetan steppe cover an extensive area of Asia, which is Douglas A. Johnson comprised of a diversity of cold deserts, semiarid steppes, shrublands, alpine steppes, and moist alpine meadows. The climate of these rangelands is strongly 1 International Centre for the Advancement of continental, and most of the steppe is arid to semiarid. The Tibetan steppe is the Pastoral Systems, source of many of the major rivers of Asia, and has a rich flora and fauna with many 69086 Allen Canyon Road, endemic species. This unique region has been traditionally used for transhumant Wallowa, grazing by yak, sheep, and goats. During the last 50 years, management of these Oregon, 97885, rangelands has undergone major shifts from feudalism to collectivism to privatisation USA of livestock with individual grazing rights. Characteristics of the Tibetan steppe are
razing animals and grazing- grazing rather than cultivation, occupies based livestock production sys- 40% of the 13.7 billion hectares compris- G tems remain an important compo- ing the earth’s land surface. On the Tibe- nent of the world’s food supply [1]. tan steppe of Asia, almost all animal feed Rangeland, which produces forage for is obtained as forage by grazing livestock grazing animals and is more suited for in traditional or modified pastoral livestock
142 Sécheresse vol. 17, n° 1-2, janvier-juin 2006 production systems. Successful pastoral Region [3]. Some Kobresia-dominated ing the Yellow, Yangtze, Mekong, livestock production systems on the Tibe- communities in alpine meadows of the Salween, Indus, Sutlej, Ganges, and Brah- tan steppe (similar to anywhere else in the Tibetan steppe have deteriorated to such a maputra Rivers. world) must have: degree that most of the sedges and asso- In China, the Tibetan steppe covers an – access to natural resources (forage, ciated grasses have disappeared, leaving area of about 165 million hectares, or feed, shelter, water, etc.) needed to sup- annual plant species and bare soil 42% of China’s grazing lands [8]. A pro- port livestock to produce off-take products; termed “black beach”. Overgrazing and vincial breakdown of the steppe area – livestock that convert forage and other burrowing by pikas (Ochotona spp.) have within China includes: 118.4 million hec- feeds into products (i.e., meat, milk, fibre, been implicated as major causal factors of tares in the Tibetan Autonomous Region manure, hides, etc.) that are directly this degradation, although climate change and Qinghai, 15 million hectares in the consumable by the producer’s family or and increasing aridity may also play a northern portion of the Kunlun Mountains that can be exchanged for other products role [4]. This degradation calls into ques- in southern Xinjiang, 14 million hectares or cash in the market-place; tion the long-term sustainability of the Tibe- in western Sichuan, 5 million hectares in – relatively few people dependent on tan steppe under current use [2]. northwestern Yunnan, and 12 million hec- natural resource use for their immediate In this paper, the authors characterize the tares in western Gansu. Less than 1% of livelihoods. rangeland resources of the Tibetan steppe the steppe is cultivated with crops that The Tibetan steppe with its strong continent- in China. They also highlight the major include barley, wheat, peas, rape, and al climate is one of the most severe environ- challenges that exist in trying to balance potatoes; however, cropping areas have ments in the world where pastoral livestock the needs for ensuring that this unique expanded in recent decades, especially in production continues to be practised. Most landscape continues to maintain critical the Qaidam Basin. In the eastern portion rangelands on the Tibetan steppe are water sources, provide habitat and forage of the steppe, cropland is found in the above 4,000m in elevation, and some for domestic livestock and wildlife, and lower valleys (below 3,300m), whereas in herders maintain permanent camps at ele- maintain biological diversity. The hope is western Tibet cropping areas are found vations as high as 5,100m. Despite this that this discussion will shed light on the along the valley and tributaries of the harsh climate, rangelands on the Tibetan ongoing decline in livestock productivity Yarlung Tsangpo River (below 4,400m). steppe provide forage for an estimated and ecological stability of natural resourc- The Tibetan steppe has several distinct 12million yak and 30 million sheep and es on the Tibetan steppe, and assist in topographic regions determined by water goats that support the livelihoods of about devising meaningful solutions to problems drainage patterns and the parallel moun- 5 million pastoralists and agropastoral- affecting the sustainability of households tain ranges that divide it [7]. Much of the ists. Through thousands of years, pastoral and production systems on the steppe. This steppe consists of large lake basins sur- livestock production on the Tibetan steppe paper draws heavily on information rounded by mountains with no outlets. has continually involved decision-making contained in studies by Sheehy [5] and Only the eastern and southern portions of by the pastoralists to mitigate risks and Miller [6]. the steppe have outlets to the ocean, with avert disasters. Risk imposed by environ- rivers originating in the Kunlun Mountains mental conditions is always a factor in flowing north to the Taklimakan and Qai- meeting animal demand and livelihood Geographical dam Deserts. Forests only occur on the needs in a pastoral system, and is an eastern edge of the steppe in western especially cr