Systems and Technologies for Snow Disaster Prevention: Anthropological Observations on the Pastoral Areas in the Eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Observations conducted on the rangelands on the eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (found in He'nan County and Zeku County in southeast Qinghai) indicate that the following conditions result in heavy snowfall and snow disasters. The first factor to consider is the height of the foliage. If the foliage is short in length, this increases the possibility of a snow disaster occurring. Excluding natural factors, the undergrowth of foliage occurs because of improper use of the pasture lands set aside for winter grazing. Consequently, when the withered foliage is covered by the snowfall, the livestock are starved to death because of the lack of edible foodstuffs. Second, it is extremely cold after heavy snowfall. Coldness not only freezes weak livestock to death, but also starves healthy livestock, as it prevents the accumulated snow from melting. Third, the government's limited capacity to assist with disaster prevention and relief cannot improve the scarcity of food. Therefore, it can be seen that snow disaster risks are directly associated with the exploitation system of pastures and the public service level of the government.The risks are both related to natural and human factors, that is, different ownership systems of pastures and the public service level of the government, which vary greatly over different historical periods. A more rational system and a better level of public service is crucial in order to reduce disaster risks.