Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.3, 2020

Urbanization and Ecological Governance in Pastoral Areas

(Abstract)

Bao Zhiming and Shi Tengfei

The policy of pastoral urbanization, widely implemented in China’s northern steppes, continues the long-term ecological governance, policy of settling their inhabitants in fixed settlements. The processes of urbanization and ecological  governance of pastoral areas require that we re-examine the role of the herdsmen as players in this process and gain a good understanding of their nomadic way of life. In specific practice, the reconstruction of pastoral areas boosted in through organizational and livelihood modes such as animal husbandry cooperatives and steppe eco-tourism can enable herdsmen to move back and forth between pastoral areas and towns, enabling them to continue to engage in animal husbandry as a means of livelihood and protect the environment in pastoral areas while enjoying a diversified livelihood and modern lifestyle in the towns. In this way, we can expect to achieve a win-win situation of urbanization and environmental management in pastoral areas and thus promote the overall revitalization of the countryside in terms of industry, talent, culture, ecology, organization, etc.