The Research Into Settled Pastoralists’ Livelihood Strategies And Grassland Use

Maqu county,Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Gansu province is located in the upstream of the Yellow River.Because of water recharging,it has important ecology function. However, Degeneration of grassland is very serious now and the area and the quality have dropped due to human activities and natural factors. Therefore, in order to improve the grass situation, Maqu started pastoral settlement activity in 2008. Under the policy implications, Maqu gradually formed three main settlement patterns:settled in the county, the village or the prairie, which causes a major impact in the pastoral areas and grasslands, thereby affecting the entire grassland ecosystems.It has an important practical significance to study whether or not the settled pastoralists are able to live and work in peace and contentment since this affect grassland management and the social stability. On the other hand, nomadism has maintained for thousands of years, thus its revocation will bring the topic remarkable historical significance. Lastly, the county Maqu is one of the first areas to implement the policy, so it has served as a kind of role model for other pasturing areas.Based on this, this paper lays emphasis on the research of the different settlement patterns in the survey area. After several social investigations, in the use of sustainable livelihoods pentagon framework it measures values of livelihood capitals of herdsman families in different living conditions. Then this paper analyses the differences and the cause of difference. It draws the following conclusions:1. The main material production mode is still depending on natural resources. Besides the influence of this policy, for herdsman families, the main factors that influence their choice are the degradation degree of pasture, the condition of family labor and the need of medical care and education.2. The values of livelihood capitals of herdsman families in different living conditions are very different. Grassland area and livestock number have critical influence.3.Different settlement patterns also leads to the fact that livelihoods strategy selection has obvious characteristics. What do they do for a living largely rely on where do they live.4.Because of those difference government’s supporting policy should also be distinguish.5.Not only the way of grassland using but the extent has been different in these three different living conditions. This causes an far-reaching influence on the grass. We believe that in the long term, herdsmen settlement activity will do more good than harm to the grassland, if we do this in the right way.