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Evaluating the Effects of Government Policy and Drought from 1984 to 2009 on Rangeland in the Three Rivers Source Region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Author

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  • Qingshui Lu

    (Institute of Green Development, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, China)

  • Jicai Ning

    (Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China)

  • Fuyuan Liang

    (Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL 61455, USA)

  • Xiaoli Bi

    (Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China)

Abstract

The Three Rivers Source Region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is a key area that has extensive impacts on much of the population and economy of China as well as several Southeast Asian countries. The rangeland in this area has undergone degradation, the driving factors of which have been extensively investigated in previous studies. However, the effect of policy on rangeland was not analyzed by subdividing the study period according to the timing of the rangeland policies. The role of dry conditions during the process of degradation has not been studied. Therefore, the period from 1984 to 2009 was subdivided into five periods according to the timing of the relevant government policies based on long-term field investigation. The mean annual normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and its relationship to dry conditions, policy, temperature, precipitation, and moisture index were analyzed for the five periods. According to our analysis, dry conditions mainly occurred in non-vegetation-growing months, and they did not affect the status of the rangeland. The privatization of rangeland and livestock caused the number of livestock to increase, resulting in a decrease in the mean annual NDVI from 1984 to 1993. The policies of “Green-to-Grain” and eco-migration caused livestock numbers to decrease and the NDVI to increase after 1994. Physical factors such as temperature, precipitation, and moisture also affected the status of the rangeland. Increased temperature had positive effects on rangeland in most areas, but its effect was offset by increased numbers of livestock from 1984 to 1993. Precipitation had positive effects only in drier areas in which the precipitation in the vegetation-growing months was less than 400 mm. In general, the policies of “Green-to-Grain” and eco-migration improved the status of rangeland, and helped improve sustainable use of the rangeland. The methods used in this study could be applied to other case studies of rangeland. Governments should continue to implement compensation policies to maintain the improved condition of rangeland in the area and expand those policies to other rangeland areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Qingshui Lu & Jicai Ning & Fuyuan Liang & Xiaoli Bi, 2017. "Evaluating the Effects of Government Policy and Drought from 1984 to 2009 on Rangeland in the Three Rivers Source Region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-16, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:6:p:1033-:d:101920
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yongxun Zhang & Qingwen Min & Guigen Zhao & Wenjun Jiao & Weiwei Liu & Dhruba Bijaya G.C., 2016. "Can Clean Energy Policy Improve the Quality of Alpine Grassland Ecosystem? A Scenario Analysis to Influence the Energy Changes in the Three-River Headwater Region, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-14, March.
    2. I. Nalbantis & G. Tsakiris, 2009. "Assessment of Hydrological Drought Revisited," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 23(5), pages 881-897, March.
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    1. Lin Chu & Tiancheng Sun & Tianwei Wang & Zhaoxia Li & Chongfa Cai, 2018. "Evolution and Prediction of Landscape Pattern and Habitat Quality Based on CA-Markov and InVEST Model in Hubei Section of Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-28, October.

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