Over half of natural grassland in China's Inner Mongolia now ranchland
09:25, July 11, 2010

Email | Print | Subscribe | Comments | Forum 
The survey by the regional agricultural and animal husbandry bureau found 66 percent of the 88 million-ha natural grassland in Inner Mongolia has become family ranches.
Some 1.6 million households have settled down after leasing the right to graze their animals under the land contract system, instead of moving freely on the grassland like what their ancestors did for centuries, according to the survey result.
This has aroused debates if the loss of nomadic traditions is good or bad for the conservation of fragile ecosystem of the grassland, which suffered desertification in recent decades.
Chaolu, a 36-year-old Mongolian herdsman, said he only had a faint memory of the nomadic life from his childhood.
His family settled down on the grassland of Taipusi Banner in the heart of Inner Mongolia in 1980s, and started to lease a 66.6-ha. lot of grassland.
It has become a routine job for Chaolu to get on his motorbike to drive his cattle back from neighboring ranches, as soon as neighbors call to alert him that his livestock have roamed onto their land.
"I can understand them. People love their own ranches like their own children, and care more about the environment," he said.
The sense of responsibility has helped locals rethink about some practice which were thought harmful for the grassland, for example, overgrazing.
Chaolu's family used to have a herd double the current number of 200 cattle and sheep.
![]() |
(Editor:黄蓓蓓)

Related Reading
Chinese embassy marks 1961 signing of friendship treaty with DPRK
Argentine president's visit to China underscores strategic ties: Chinese diplomat
Zimbabwe wriggles itself out of economic problems with China's support (2)
Zimbabwe wriggles itself out of economic problems with China's support
Commemorative stamps issued to mark China, Ghana 50-year relations

Tibet poised to embrace even brighter future, 60 years after peaceful liberation
Chinese official calls for more language, culture exchanges with foreign countries
Senior Chinese leader calls for efforts to develop new energy
Central gov't delegation arrives in Lhasa for Tibet Peaceful Liberation Celebrations
China Southern Airlines sends charter flight carrying peacekeepers to Liberia

