Rangeland degradation and restoration management in China

Rangelands of China have for centuries provided forage for livestock but now their role in water, soil, and biodiversity conservation is being recognised by Governments and people. However, much of the rangelands has recently degradedanddesertificationisnowawidespreadproblem.Thecauseofthedegradationisover-grazingandover-cultivation. Climatechangeisexacerbatingtheproblem.TheChineseGovernmentshavebeguntoaddressthesesevereproblemsthrough policyadjustmentsandprojects.Inparallel,someresearchanddevelopmentistakingplace.Therearemajorimpedimentsto addressing the problem; the importance of rangelands to China and its people are generally underestimated, legislative protectionisincompleteandoftenineffective,littleattentionispaidtoscientificknowledgefordevelopmentofmanagement of natural resources, there is insufficient technological support, and Governments are not able to invest sufficiently to effectively restore and develop rangeland natural resources. However, with this background we propose how the problems might be more effectively addressed in the future.