Short description of the best practice

Pasture is divided into several plots based on its productivity, and grazing period and grazing systems are fixed according to the carrying capacity of each plot. The demonstration plots were identified at spring and autumn ranges in Hexigten Banner of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. There around plots were rivers, lakes and residential areas, and grasslands degraded seriously because of tramples by livestock when drinking water. Hexigten Banner initiated the project of rotational grazing in order to improve the living and production conditions of herdsmen, prompt reform of local production systems and preserve the ecological environment of grasslands. The main target of the project was to achieve the balance of pasture utilization, rational development of water resources, and eventually realize the balance between grass and livestock all the year through rotational grazing in summer and autumn and crops grown for silage, etc..|

Location

Jiri Villiage and Hongqi Villiage of Baiyinchagan Township, Hexigten Banner of Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia, China.|

Brief description of the natural environment within the specified location.

Semi-arid continental climate.
Soil is loamy texture and soil erodibility is medium.
Plain/plateaus.

Prevailing socio-economic conditions of those living in the location and/or nearby

Collective ownership and individual use rights
Farming.
Local income level is low. Per Capita Annual Net Income is CNY 5090 in Rural areas of Hexigten Banner of Inner Mongolia in 2011.

On the basis of which criteria and/or indicator(s) (not related to The Strategy) the proposed practice and corresponding technology has been considered as 'best'?

Grazing land.
It allows rehabilitation of degraded grassland, sustains land use for long term, increases income of local farmers, is suitable to natural conditions and is well accepted by the local participants.|

Main problems addressed by the best practice

Over grazing is controlled and is in favour of pasture recovery.
|Decrease desertification.|Solve the contradiction between limited rangeland and growing demand of animal husbandry.|Improve awareness of ecological protection in communities.

Outline specific land degradation problems addressed by the best practice

Grassland degradation caused by overgrazing was addressed.

Specify the objectives of the best practice

Restore the normal growth of the pasture.|Solve water shortage for livestock.|Improve grassland productivity.|Achieve sustainable use of resources.

Brief description of main activities, by objective

1. Dig wells, fit windmills, build water tank and carry water by tractors.
2. Cultivate forage crop at small scale with irrigation and fertilizer application.
3. Establish silage to supply forage all the year.
1. Enclose an area within demonstration plot serving as water storage for livestock under the conditions if there are river of lake available.
2. In the rolling areas, one drinking point should be created for two plots. Dig well near the pasture track. A pitcher with capacity of 16 ton of water should be installed around each windmill.
3. If landform of plot is flat, the pitcher should be built at high terrace in favour of water flow in pipeline to grazing area.|
1. Divide the rangeland into units.
2. Establish and mend enclosures.
3. Forage basis are leveled ground and sowed by project house-holders as spring drew near.
1. Develop high-yielding forage basis.
2. Strengthen control of diseases of livestock and.
3. Implement balance system of the grass and livestock.

Short description and technical specifications of the technology

Technical contents of rotational grazing mainly included: (1) Balance the utilization of grasslands through dividing the rangeland into units; (2) Solve the problem of water shortage by means of windmill, water tank and water transportation by tractors, etc; (3) Cultivate high-yielding forage crop at small scale with irrigation and fertilizer application; (4) Establish silage to supply forage; (5) Strengthen control of diseases of livestock and improve rangeland management.
Five barbed wire fences around rotational grazing units were used and the pillars of enclosures were made up of cements. Plots were divided by zinc coated fences, and added a barbed wire at the top of the fences. Gate of each pilot was welded by steel pipes.

Name and address of the institution developing the technology

Rangeland Survey and Design Institute, Inner Mongolia Agricultural and Pastoral Academy of Sciences.|No answer provided.

Was the technology developed in partnership?

No

Specify the framework within which the technology was promoted

• Local initiative
• National initiative – government-led
• Programme/project-based initiative

Was the participation of local stakeholders, including CSOs, fostered in the development of the technology?

Yes

List local stakeholders involved:

Project householders.

For the stakeholders listed above, specify their role in the design, introduction, use and maintenance of the technology, if any.

Project householders were trained in the forms of textbook, information booklets in the use and maintenance of the technology.|

Was the population living in the location and/or nearby involved in the development of the technology?

No

By means of what?

• Participatory approaches

Describe on-site impacts (the major two impacts by category)

Production methods of animal husbandry optimized. Saved labor was transferred to second and third industries.
Capacity of technology application of herdsmen was improved and herdmen’s traditional concept changed.
Livestock gained weight.
Pabular forages and grass coverage increased. Grazing intensity were lessened.
Herdsmen’s income increased.
Water and soil conservation were strengthened.

Describe the major two off-site (i.e. not occurring in the location but in the surrounding areas) impacts

Climate of sandystorm was lightened.

Impact on biodiversity and climate change

Explain the reasons:

Activities and measures taken in the best practices/technology, which increased grass coverage, lessened grazing intensity, strengthened water and soil conservation in the demonstration plots, so the best practice had a positive impact on biodiversity conservation and climate change.|

Has a cost-benefit analysis been carried out?

Has a cost-benefit analysis been carried out?

Yes

Was the technology disseminated/introduced to other locations?

Was the technology disseminated/introduced to other locations?

Yes

Where?

4.6 million hm2 natural rangeland in Inner Mongolia.

Can you identify the three main conditions that led to the success of the presented best practice/technology?

The technology adapted to local natural and socio-economic development requirements.
The Chinese government has formulated relevant policies to encourage rotational grazing.
Local government had played an important role in application and scaling up of rotational grazing.

Replicability

In your opinion, the best practice/technology you have proposed can be replicated, although with some level of adaptation, elsewhere?

Yes

At which level?

• Local
• Sub-national

Related to human resources

The individual capacity of some herdsmen is limited in the use of the technology.

Related to technical aspects

Local the ability of the application and scaling up of the technology. As local herdsmen lack knowledge of animal management, and it is not easy to popularize the technology in the grazing areas.|