In the face of rapid changes in climate and social-economic conditions, neither the traditional ecological knowledge of local pastoralists on the Tibetan Plateau nor the centrally-designed national policies have been able to address the emerging threats to rangelands that both local livelihood and wildlife rely upon. Crucially, lack of understanding of the ecological needs of each wild ungulate species under the influence of existing livestock management practice hinders the adoption of wildlife-friendly rangeland management. Meanwhile, local community members were largely excluded from the grasslands policy development process, so they lack motivations to actively and creatively conserve their pasturelands. We aim to strongly collaborate with local herders in Chiat’ung meadow, Sanjiangyuan National Park to develop wild ungulate-friendly rangeland management knowledge through foodscape mapping of wild ungulate species to understand their potential conflict with livestock under the current pastoral land use. Through collaboration with local communities and governments, the results will help improve the consensus among key conservation stakeholders on the existing gaps in policy and practice of wild ungulate conservation on the Tibetan Plateau and promote sustainable pasture management.
Photographer: Bo Lei
Photographer: Lei Dong
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