TPAF’s rangeland program has demonstrated techniques applicable for the preservation and restoration of grasslands found increasingly degraded in Nakchu Prefecture. This degradation is due to “global warming” and the drying out of the rangeland, but also to the voracious consumption of local forage by plateau pika populations. To an extent economic and social development processes also contribute to the degradation processes, as nomadic animal husbandry production systems and practices evolve toward increased concentration of livestock and overgrazing in winter pasture areas due to increased settlement and use of fencing there.
The TPAF rangeland program was designed to demonstrate improved rangeland management practices in two of the most common eco-system types found in Nakchu Prefecture, namely alpine meadow and alpine steppe eco-system conditions. Program activities were located in villages of Laxi Township, Baqing County, Kormar Township, Nakchu County and Porpu Township, Banga County.
The program demonstrated the advantages of using fencing and planting of grass seed for the recovery of particularly degraded grassland areas in each village, and for the establishment of feedlots in wetter areas where animals could be fattened before sale each Fall-thereby enabling villagers to ensure the maximum weight and best price for livestock sold each year. Villagers were trained in qualitative pasture assessment and management techniques. Microfinance was introduced to encourage additional purchasing and sale of livestock and livestock products, and introduction of alternative income generating activities. Under the program there was provision for the purchase of local vehicles to facilitate increased marketing and sale of livestock and livestock products. TPAF sponsored a workshop at the end of the program to share learning from the pilot areas and to encourage replication of best practices in ongoing and new government and donor assisted programs to control rangeland degradation.