Abstract
The Yellow River Source National Park (YRSP) is one of the most sensitive and fragile ecological regions in the world. The historical intensive grazing and climate change have resulted in ecological degradation that threatens the wildlife and livestock. Exploring the sustainable strategy is urgent for policy makers to meet the demands for wild ungulates and livestock. In our study, the grassland ecological carrying capability (GECC) was assessed based on the updated grass-livestock balance that considered the grass competition from wild ungulates. The balances between grass and livestock, and GECC and grassland pressure index (GPI) in the YRSP were measured through overlay analysis and geostatistic analysis. The results showed that: (1) the ratio of livestock to wild ungulates in the research area was approximately 4.56: 1, in which the proportion of livestock was 81.75% and the actual number of livestock was 33.84 × 104 standard sheep units; (2) Under the scenario of minimum grazing utilisation rate, the theoretical grazing capacity and GECC were 37.83 × 104 standard sheep units and −0.13, respectively. Under the maximum grazing utilisation rate, the theoretical grazing capacity and GECC were 41.93 × 104 standard sheep units and −0.21, respectively. Since GECC in both scenarios were both less than 0, the grassland was considered to be in surplus and the livestock was not overloaded. However, GPI in the two scenarios were 0.87 and 0.79, respectively, both of which exceeded the warning line of 0.70. Based on GECC, we recommend that the sustainable strategy in YRSP is either to increase the supplementary feeding about 6.40 × 104 standard sheep units or reduce the grazing livestock by about 3.50 × 104 standard sheep units.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Aryal A, Brunton D, Weihong JI, et al. (2014) Blue sheep in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal habitat use, population biomass and their contribution to the carrying capacity of snow leopards. Integr Zool 9(1): 34–45. https://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.12004
An MZ, Gao W, Chao L (2002) Grassland productivity measurement and calculation method of the fourth grassland resource survey in Inner Mongolia. Inn Mong Pratac 14(4): 20–21. (In Chinese)
Ates S, Cicek H, Bell LW, et al. (2018) Sustainable development of smallholder crop-livestock farming in developing countries. IOP Conference Series: Earth Environ Sci 142(1): 012076. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/142/1/012076
Batabyal AA, Godfrey EB (2002) Rangeland management under uncertainty: A conceptual approach. J Range Manage. 55(1): 12–15. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.263917
Benshahar R (1993) Does fencing reduce the carrying capacity for populations of large herbivores. J Trop Ecol 9(2): 249–253. https://doi.org/10.1007/S0266467400007252
Behnke RH (2000) Equilibrium and non-equilibrium models of livestock population dynamics in pastoral Africa: their relevance to Arctic grazing systems. Rangif 20(2/3): 141–152. https://doi.org/10.7557/2.20.2-3.1509
Bing LF, Shao QQ, Liu JY (2011) Characteristic of land cover changes in the Yellow River headwaters region over the past 30 years. J Geo-Inf Sci 13(3): 289–296. https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1047.2011.00289
Cai HY, Yang XH, Xu XL (2015) Human-induced grassland degradation/restoration in the central Tibetan Plateau The effects of ecological protection and restoration projects. Ecol Eng 83 (83): 112–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.06.031
Cai ZY, Qin W, Gao HM, et al. (2019) Species diversity and fauna of mammals in Sanjiangyuan National Park. Acta Theriol Sin 39(4): 410–420. https://doi.org/10.16829/j.slxb.150215
Cao XF, Sun L, Zhao ZF, et al. (2018) Application of MODIS remote sensing products in the estimation of grass yield in Sanjiang Source area. Remote Sens L Resour 30(4): 115–124. https://doi.org/10.6046/gtzyyg.2018.04.18
Chretien LP, Theau J, Menard P (2016) Visible and thermal infrared remote sensing for the detection of white- tailed deer using an unmanned aerial system. Wildl Soc Bull 40(1): 181–191. https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.629
Fan JW, Shao QQ, Liu JY, et al. (2010) Assessment of effects of climate change and grazing activity on grassland yield in the Three Rivers Headwaters Region of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. Environ Monit Assess 170(1/4): 571–584. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-1258-1
Fu W, Zhao JQ, Du GZ (2013) Study on sustainable development of alpine grazing ecosystem on Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Grassl Turf 33(1): 84–88. https://doi.org/10.13817/j.cnki.cyycp.2013.01.018
Guo XJ, Shao QQ, Yang F, et al. (2019) Using UAV remote sensing for a population census of blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) in Maduo county, source region of the Yellow River. J Nat Resour 34(5): 1054–1065. https://doi.org/10.31497/zrzyxb.20190512
Graymore M (2005) Journey to sustainability: Small regions, sustainable carrying capacity and sustainability assessment methods. PhD thesis, Griffith University, Australian. p 30.
Hadwen S, Palmer LJ (1922) Reindeer in Alaska. Washington: US Department of Agriculture.
Huang L, Shao QQ, Liu JY (2011) Spatial-temporal analysis of soil erosion in grassland over the past three decades in Sanjiangyuan Region, Qinghai Province, China. J Geo-Inf Sci 13(1): 12–21. https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1047.2011.00012
Jimoh SO, Yin YT, Li P, et al. (2020) Understanding stocking rate in response to supplementary feed in Inner Mongolia, China. Rangeland J 42: 135–142. https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ19084
Kobayashi N, Hou F, Tsunekawa A, et al. (2018) Appropriate level of alfalfa hay in diets for rearing Simmental crossbred calves in dryland China. Asian-Australas. J Anim Sci 31: 1881–1889. doi:https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.18.0089
Liu DX, Zhang BB, Lu XS (2007) Progress and prospect on ecological carrying capacity in grassland. Chinese J Grasal 29(1): 91–97. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1673-5021.2007.01.017
Lu S, Li J, Guan XL, et al. (2018) The evaluaion of forestry ecological security in China Developing a decision support system. Ecol Indic 91: 664–678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.03.088
Ohl C, Krauze K, Grunbuhel C (2007) Towards an understanding of long-term ecosystem dynamics by melting socio-economic and environmental research criteria for long-term socio-ecological research sites selection. Ecol Econist 63 (2–3): 383–391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2007.03.014
Price D (1999) Carrying capacity reconsidered. Popul Environ 21(1): 5–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02436118
Roe EM (1997) Viewpoint on rangeland carrying capacity. J Range Manage 50(5): 467–472. https://doi.org/10.2307/4003700
Rong R (2019) Changes of nutrients in grassland of typical ecological animal husbandry cooperatives and their relationship with sustainable production in the Three Rivers Source Region. Master Thesis, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China. p 20. (In Chinese)
Scarnecchia DL (1990) Concepts of carrying capacity and substitution ratios: a systems viewpoint. J Range Manage 43(6): 553–555. https://doi.org/10.2307/4002363
Shao QQ, Guo XJ, Li YZ, et al. (2018) Using UAV remote sensing to analyze the population and distribution of large wild herbivores. J Remote Sens 22(3): 97–507. https://doi.org/10.11834/jrs.20187267
Shao QQ, Cao W, Fan JW, et al (2017) Effects of an ecological conservation and restoration project in the Three-River source region, China. J Geogr Sci 27(2): 183–204. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-017-1371-y
Su XK, Dong SK, Liu SL, et al. (2014) Effects of land use/land cover change (LUCC) on habitats of Tibetan wild donkey in Aerjin Mountain National Nature Reserve. Chinese J Ecol 33(1): 141–148. https://doi.org/10.13292/j.1000-4890.20131220.0030
Sullivan S, Rohde R (2002) On non-equilibrium in arid and semiarid grazing systems. J Biogeogr 29(12): 1595–1618. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2699.2002.00799.x
Wang N, Liu P, Huang XH (2004) Research progress in ecological carrying capacity. Chinese Agric Sci Bull 20(6): 278–385. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1000-6850.2004.06.087
Xiang XH, Wu XL, Wang CH (2013) Influences of climate variation on thawing freezing processes in the northeast of Three-River Source Region, China. Cold Reg Sci Technol 86: 86–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2012.10.006
Xu, B, Yang XC, Jin YX, et al. (2013) Monitoring and evaluation of grassland-livestock balance in pastoral and semi-pastoral counties of China. Geogr Res 31(11): 1998–2006. CNKI:SUN:DLYJ.0.2012-11-009
Xu MY (2014) A review of grassland carrying capacity: perspective and dilemma for research in China on “forage-livestock balance”. Acta Pratac Sin 23(5): 321–329. https://doi.org/10.11686/cyx20140538
Xu ZG, Wang XY, Zong G, et al. (2010) The conflict and strategy between wildlife protection and livestock production in Qiangtang natural reserve. Central South Forest Invent Plan 29(1): 33–37. https://doi.org/10.16166/j.cnki.cn43-1095.2010.01.011
Yang F, Shao QQ, Guo XJ, et al. (2018) Effects of wild large herbivore populations on the grassland-livestock balance in Maduo County. Acta Pratac Sin 27(7): 1–13. https://doi.org/10.11686/eyxh2017311
Yu H, Wang GX, Yang Y, et al. (2020a) Concept of grassland green carrying capacity and its application framework in national park. Acta Ecol Sin, 40(20):7248–7254. https://doi.org/10.5846/stxb201906171276
Yu H, Wang GX, Yang Y, et al. (2020b) Enhancing ecological value through sustainable food supply of grasslands in the Three-River-Source National Park, Tibet Plateau, China. Ecosyst Serv 46: 101218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101218
Zhao W, Shen WS, Liu B, et al. (2015) Carrying capacity of grasslands and its spatiotemporal change in Tibet, China. China Sci Bull 60(21): 2014–2028. https://doi.org/10.1360/N972014-01113
Zhao XQ, Zhao L, Li Q, et al. (2018) Using balance of seasonal herbage supply and demand to inform sustainable grassland management on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Front Agric Sci Eng 5(1): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.15302/J-FASE-2018203
Zhang CH (2014) Effcets of grazing and fertilization on conmmunity productivity and species richness in eastern alpine meadow of Tibetan plateau. Pratac Sci 31: 2293–2300. https://doi.org/10.11829/j.issn.1001-0629.2014-0392
Zhang JP, Zhang LB, Liu WL, et al. (2014) Livestock-carrying capacity and overgrazing status of alpine grassland in the Three-River Headwaters region, China. Acta Geogra Sin 24(2): 303–312. https://doi.org/10.16829/j.slxb.150344
Zhang ZH, Zhou HK, Zhao XQ, et al. (2018) Relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in alpine meadows of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Biodivers Sci 26(2): 111–129. https://doi.org/10.17520/biods.2017021
Zhang MC, Li ZG, Hu TH, et al. (2012) Distribution and group size of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Ningxia Helan Mountain National Nature Reserve, China. Acta Theriol Sin 32(4): 318–324. https://doi.org/10.16829/j.slxb.1998.01.005
Zhang LX, Fan JW, Zhou DC, et al. (2017) Ecological protection and restoration program reduced grazing pressure in the Three-River Headwaters Region, China. Rangel Ecol Manag 70(5): 540–548. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2017.05.001
Acknowledgement
The research was funded by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDA23060601), National Natural Science Foundation of China (U20A2088), Monitoring and Warning Program for Resources and Environment Carrying Capability in Sichuan Province (Grant No. ZXGH201709), Land space planning of Sichuan Province (2019–2035), Ecological restoration planning of land space in Sichuan Province (2021–2035). We are grateful to the Management Office of the Three-River-Source National Park, Qinghai Grassland Station, Grassland Station of Guolou State, the Yellow River Source Park Management Committee of Three River Source National Park and Maduo County Ecological Protection Station for strong support and assistance with field work.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yu, H., Liu, Bt., Wang, Gx. et al. Grass-livestock balance based grassland ecological carrying capability and sustainable strategy in the Yellow River Source National Park, Tibet Plateau, China. J. Mt. Sci. 18, 2201–2211 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-020-6087-2
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-020-6087-2