On the windswept plains of Nyanpo Yuzee in Qinghai's Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, a quiet revolution is unfolding. For generations, Tibetan herders here have relied on vast grasslands to sustain their livestock and way of life. But over two decades, climate shifts and overgrazing turned nearly a third of the region's pastures into barren 'black soil' zones – threatening both livelihoods and delicate plateau ecosystems.
Seeds of Change
In 2021, a unique alliance emerged to combat the crisis. The Nyanpo Yuzee Environmental Protection Association partnered with local authorities and technical experts to launch a pilot restoration project. With county funding, they trained 47 residents in advanced grassland management techniques, blending traditional herding wisdom with modern ecology.
Roots of Resilience
Dawa, a former herder turned restoration technician, explains: "We first identify severely degraded areas, then plant native grass species using specialized tools. It's slow work – some plots take 3 years to recover – but we're seeing insects return, then birds, then biodiversity." Early results show restored areas have 60% more vegetation cover than untreated land.
Balancing Act
The initiative faces complex challenges. Rotational grazing requires herders to temporarily reduce livestock numbers, impacting short-term income. However, the county's new ecotourism initiatives – boosted by recovering wildlife populations – are creating alternative revenue streams. As the project expands, organizers aim to prove environmental and economic sustainability can grow hand-in-hand on the Roof of the World.
Reference(s):
The Reawakening of the Grassland | Restoring pastures on the plateau
cgtn.com
