Chengsi Li MSc Thesis in Environmental Sciences May 2018 HOW DO GRASSLAND RESTORATION PROGRAMS IN INNER MONGOLIA AFFECT ECOSYSTEM SERVICES? OF THREE INNER MONGOLIAN CASE Supervised by: Dr. Rudolf de Groot STUDIES? And Bingzhen Du Course code: ESA-80436 Environmental Systems Analysis Cover Figures: Background photo: Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China. Small photos: Landscape in RGTG program area of Inner Mongolia Other photos are from The Grassland monitoring report of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2012, published by General Office of the government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. http://www.nmg.gov.cn/fabu/tjxx/tjsj/201506/t20150616_457887.html How do Grassland Restoration programs in Inner Mongolia affect Ecosystem services of three Inner Mongolian case studies? MSc Thesis Environmental Sciences May 2018 “No part of this thesis may be reproduced without contacting the Environmental Systems Analysis Group” Supervisors: Dr. Ru dolf De Groot Environmental Systems Analysis Group Wageningen University, P.O.Box 47, 6700AA, Wageningen The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected] Bingzhen Du Environmental Systems Analysis Group Wageningen University The Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research of Chinese Academy University 100101, Beijing China E-mail: [email protected] Examiners: Dr. Rudolf De Groot Environmental Systems Analysis Group Wageningen University, P.O.Box 47, 6700AA, Wageningen The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected] Prof. Dr. Rik Leemans Environmental Systems Analysis Group Wageningen University, P.O.Box 47, 6700AA, Wageningen The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected] 3 List of Abbreviations 3-Grazing Policy 3GP Balance of Fodder and Livestock program BOF L Banning Grazing BG Ecosystem Service ES Millennium Ecosystem Assessment MA Payment of Ecosystem Service PES Resting Grazing EG Return grazing land to grassland Program RGTG Rotational Grazing RG Wageningen University and Research WUR Grassland degradation GD Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese IGSNRR, Academy University CAS 4 List of Figures: Figure 1. Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China ........................................................ 13 Figure 2. Concept framework of this thesis (only the yellow-marked part were studied) (Based on De Groot et al., 2002; Zhange, 2012). ........................................................................ 16 Figure 3. Traditional rotational grazing way (Based on Bai, 2016). ....................................... 16 Figure 4. The normal and traditional name of different administrative rank of government in ......................................................................................................................................... 21 Figure 5. Integrated implementation process that included BOFL and RGTG ....................... 22 Figure 6. How to calculate available fodder of grassland with different grassland utilization rate ................................................................................................................................... 24 Figure 7. The annual average hay yield of Chenbarhu (grey) and the whole Hulun Buir (black) from ................................................................................................................................. 29 Figure 8. Time-series of vegetation fraction of Chenbarhu banner. Source:(Peng et al., 2017). ......................................................................................................................................... 29 Figure 9. Available grassland and degraded grassland area in Xilin Gol from 1981 to 2010 . 32 Figure 10. Grassland degradation rate of West Ujimqin (the 3rd one) and other 11 Banners of ......................................................................................................................................... 33 Figure 11. ‘Grade’ evaluation of the third, fourth, fifth grassland census in Xilin Gol. Source: (Ma and Qiao, 2015) ....................................................................................................... 34 Figure 14. The location of CAS investigation in Hulun Buir and Chenbarhu. Based on Google map .................................................................................................................................. 38 Figure 15. The location of CAS investigation in Xilin Gol and West Ujimqin. Based on Google map .................................................................................................................................. 39 Figure 16. The two locations of CAS investigation in Ordos (include Otog). Based on Google map .................................................................................................................................. 39 Figure 17. The average value of soil organic matter in Hulun Buir. ....................................... 41 Figure 18. The average value of soil organic matter in Xilin Gol. .......................................... 41 Figure 19. The average value of soil organic matter in Ordos. ............................................... 41 Figure 20. Comparing the aboveground biomass yield of 3 cases. ......................................... 42 Figure 21. The Shannon’s diversity index of 3 cases .............................................................. 43 Figure 22. Leymus chinensis and Stipa grandis. Source: (Morigen and Aoqier, 2008). ......... 43 Figure 23. The specie important index of 5 dominated-species of background area and light use area in Hulun Buir. .......................................................................................................... 44 Figure 24. The specie important index of 5 dominated-species of background area and light use area in Xilin Gol. ............................................................................................................. 45 Figure 25. The specie important index of 5 dominated-species of background area and light use area in Ordos. .................................................................................................................. 45 Figure 26. The 5 dominated-species of Hulun Buir. ............................................................... 46 Figure 27. The 5 dominated-species of Xilin Gol. .................................................................. 46 Figure 28. The 5 dominated-species s of Ordos. ..................................................................... 47 Figure 29. The orange negative cycle (GD) and the blue positive cycle (RGTG) of grassland degradation and restoration ............................................................................................. 57 5 List of Tables: Table 1. The differences of 3 grazing systems ........................................................................ 20 Table 2. Indicators to determine the condition of different degrees of grassland degradation 23 Table 3. How to transfer other livestock to sheep unit ............................................................ 24 Table 4. Subsidy of 3-grazing policy (unit: 1 Mu ≈ 666.7 m2)................................................ 26 Table 5. Hay yield of August (yield peak) in 3 Sumus’ grassland in Chenbarhu (unit: g/m2). 29 Table 6. The 5 grades grassland standard of grass community quality based on bio yield ..... 34 Table 7. The definition comparison between of 5 class grassland in investigation. ................ 40 Table 11. The related indicator species list of grassland degradation (when remit). ............... 44 Table 9. Basic information of 3 case study. ............................................................................ 49 Table 10. The ecosystem service value of grassland in Chenbarhu banner (unit: million yuan) ......................................................................................................................................... 49 Table 11. Comparing the RGTG effect of 3 case studies. ....................................................... 52 6 Table of Contents Summary.................................................................................................................................... 9 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 11 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................ 11 1.2 Problem statement ..................................................................................................... 12 1.3 Research aims and Questions .................................................................................... 12 1.4 Study area .................................................................................................................. 13 1.5 Outline ....................................................................................................................... 14 2. Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 15 2.1 Conceptual framework .............................................................................................. 15 2.2 Concepts used in this thesis ....................................................................................... 16 2.2.1 Traditional Rotational grazing ........................................................................ 16 2.2.2 Ecosystem services ........................................................................................