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Innovation of grassland ecological governance systems: Synergy between government regulation and grassroots governance

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  • Feng, Xiaolong
  • Qiu, Huanguang
  • Liu, Mingyue
  • Tang, Jianjun

Abstract

Previous studies have revealed that grassroots governance has played active roles in protecting grassland ecology, however, the synergistic relationship between government regulation and grassroots governance in regulating herders' overgrazing behavior has been overlooked. Our study addresses this research gap using the fixed effects model based on a panel dataset of 711 herder households in pastoral areas of China. The findings show that the grassroots governance measures, i.e. informal institutions and punishment, can reduce overgrazing by 32.8% and 35.5%, respectively. Regarding government regulation measures, grazing monitoring by higher-level governments reduces overgrazing, in contrast to the positive effect of hiring grassland managers. We also find that grazing monitoring from higher-level governments weakens the inhibitory effect of grassroots informal institutions and punishment on herders' overgrazing; grassroots informal institutions attenuate the positive effect of hiring grassland managers on overgrazing. Hence, this study suggests that the government should be more attentive toward the coordinated development of government regulation and grassroots governance rather than dealing separately with the two.

Suggested Citation

  • Feng, Xiaolong & Qiu, Huanguang & Liu, Mingyue & Tang, Jianjun, 2024. "Innovation of grassland ecological governance systems: Synergy between government regulation and grassroots governance," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:217:y:2024:i:c:s0921800923003506
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2023.108087
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Government regulation; Grassroots governance; Overgrazing; Synergy; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C36 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation
    • Q15 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Land Ownership and Tenure; Land Reform; Land Use; Irrigation; Agriculture and Environment
    • Q57 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Ecological Economics

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