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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 32(2)

Rangeland governance in China: overview, impacts on Sunan County in Gansu Province and future options

M. P. Wang A E , C. Z. Zhao B E , R. J. Long C F and Y. H. Yang D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China; International Centre for Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, Gansu, China.

B Geographic and Environmental Department, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China.

C College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, Gansu, China.

D Qinghai Vocational College of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, 812100 Qinghai, China.

E The first two authors have contributed equally to the intellectual content of this paper.

F Corresponding author. Email: longruijun@sina.com

The Rangeland Journal 32(2) 155-163 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ09085
Submitted: 29 December 2009  Accepted: 20 January 2010   Published: 30 June 2010

Abstract

The development of the current regulatory framework for management of rangeland resources in China began in 1949. Prior to this, there were family, tribal and other traditional systems of grazing management. The emphasis in government policy since 1949 has been to increase livestock production and economic output from the rangelands. The operations of these policies and regulations in Sunan County, a typical rangeland county in Gansu Province, are examined. The existing laws, policies, and regulations related to rangeland management in Sunan County and elsewhere are identified and described. It is argued that a policy based on rational processes should lead to desired outcomes. Therefore, emphasis needs to be placed on processes that facilitate the development and implementation of policies at every level of government to promote sustainable use and management of natural resources and to secure sustainable livelihoods. It is concluded that the rangeland policies have been rarely integrated with the concept of sustainable development. This is now changing. Sustainable development philosophy needs to be further incorporated into the developmental processes for rangeland policies. Until now processes have focused predominantly on economic performance.

Additional keywords: development, grassland, land tenure, policy, sustainability.


Acknowledgements

This research has been partly supported by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu, Nepal. Dr V. R. Squires commented on a draft of this paper and we are grateful for his helpful suggestions. Dr Kenneth C. Hodgkinson provided editorial work on the final manuscript.


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