Publication Date

1993

Description

The high-elevation rangelands of the Himalaya and Tibetan Plaleau have supported pastoral cultures for thousands of years while sustaining a diverse and unique flora and fauna. These rangelands are coming under increasing pressure from an expanding human population bul, properly managed, they should sustain watersheds, supply much of the projected increased demand for lives lock products and provide critical habitat for endemic wildlife, including many endangered species. Despite the extent and importance of this cold, semi-arid rangeland ecosystem there have been few scientific studies and little interest from development agencies regarding the management of these areas. Range and livestock development specialists trained in Western, commercial livestock production systems, often lack an understanding of how indigenous pastoral management interacts with the range ecosystem and often fail to appreciate the complexity and the ecological and economic efficiency of traditional management. Current methods of evaluating the costs and benefits of range-livestock projects tend 10 undervalue the long­term benefits of range management and have created skepticism and reluctance among donors to support range-livestock development. New perspectives regarding the assessment of range ecosystems, range condition, carrying capacity, pastoral development strategies and conservation development provide a valuable framework for studying Himalayan and Tibetan Plateau ecosystems and suggest fresh approaches for developing range-livestock projects in ways which complement wildlife conservation efforts. The challenge for range managers, livestock specialists and conservationists working in the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau is to design and implement range resource plans which will enable sustainable livestock production, rehabilitate degraded rangelands, promote biodiversity, improve people's income and livelihood and contribute to the region's economic development. The process of designing appropriate rangeland strategies will require range specialist to venture beyond the perspectives and methods currently employed in range science.

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High-Elevation Rangeland in the Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau: Issues, Perspective and Strategies for Livestock Development and Resource Conservation

The high-elevation rangelands of the Himalaya and Tibetan Plaleau have supported pastoral cultures for thousands of years while sustaining a diverse and unique flora and fauna. These rangelands are coming under increasing pressure from an expanding human population bul, properly managed, they should sustain watersheds, supply much of the projected increased demand for lives lock products and provide critical habitat for endemic wildlife, including many endangered species. Despite the extent and importance of this cold, semi-arid rangeland ecosystem there have been few scientific studies and little interest from development agencies regarding the management of these areas. Range and livestock development specialists trained in Western, commercial livestock production systems, often lack an understanding of how indigenous pastoral management interacts with the range ecosystem and often fail to appreciate the complexity and the ecological and economic efficiency of traditional management. Current methods of evaluating the costs and benefits of range-livestock projects tend 10 undervalue the long­term benefits of range management and have created skepticism and reluctance among donors to support range-livestock development. New perspectives regarding the assessment of range ecosystems, range condition, carrying capacity, pastoral development strategies and conservation development provide a valuable framework for studying Himalayan and Tibetan Plateau ecosystems and suggest fresh approaches for developing range-livestock projects in ways which complement wildlife conservation efforts. The challenge for range managers, livestock specialists and conservationists working in the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau is to design and implement range resource plans which will enable sustainable livestock production, rehabilitate degraded rangelands, promote biodiversity, improve people's income and livelihood and contribute to the region's economic development. The process of designing appropriate rangeland strategies will require range specialist to venture beyond the perspectives and methods currently employed in range science.