Research On The Effects Of Ethnic Culture In The Sustainable Utilization Of Tibetan Grassland

The utilization pattern of Tibetan grassland and relevant ethic-cultural system were formed with the interaction between human and nature, consequently both of them acquired stong adaptabilities to natural and social environment. As for the ethic-cultural system, it is obviously reflected in a wide range of domains, particularly ecological ethic, the culture about sacred sites, the mode of production, village rules, cognitive style, local organizations and ecological knowledge as well as skills. Then the established system of culture culminated in a lasting effect on the way Tibetans response to nature, as a consequence, a harmonious relationship between human and nature was fostered.Although our social development resulted in remarkable economic and social benefits, the ecological deterioration was incurred simultaneously. The essential reason of this concern is the excessive departure of two paralleled but complicated system, those are, Tibetan society and ecological environment. In addition, although some ecological conservations were implemented with the rethinking of the traditional mode about grassland development and utilization, the subjectivity of Tibetans and their culture are not given sufficient attention to exploit a possible effectiveness. Therefore, the dissertation argues that, in the context of the social and ecological alternation, Tibetan culture is able to facilitate sustainable use of grassland in Tibet and promote constant development of social and ecological system.Based on the perspective of ecological anthropology, the dissertation discusses two Tibetan villages in the agri-pastoral transition zone in Tibet, and their villagers take the combination of cropping and husbandry as their means of livelihood (in different proportion). The first case is Serbo Village, in Maizhokunnggar County, the other is Gyadokok Village, in Damxung County. According to these two cases, the dissertation analyzes the ethnic culture existing in the process of grassland utilization, and discusses the possible role of culture in the sustainable utilization of grassland and constant development of local societies.The study shows that Tibetan culture, as a form of cultural capital, is the result of the social actions of local residents as well as the fruits of their labor, which they choose actively and accumulate continually in a given ecological environment. The particular cultural capital play a pivotal role in the development of local societies. By researching in Serbo Village and Gyadokok Village, it is concluded that the adaptability between Tibetan culture and the ecosystem is not an onefold or isolated response, but an integrated system.By the case study on Serbo and Gyadokok, it is obvious that cultural balance and cultural self-consciousness could impact effectively on the realization about sustainable utilization of grassland and the steady development of social and ecological systems. As for the cultural balance, it aims at promoting a well-organized and appropriate running mode between substance and energy, culture and ecology. Following this, the cohesive mode develops the cohesive units which have multi-layered and different functions. Turning to the cultural self-consciousness, it encourages the local residents understand and exert the value of their own culture. Meanwhile, another significance is promoting the indigenous people in Tibet take the beneficial ingredient of different cultures as reference.