IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i13p7785-d848233.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Sustainable Land Use and Livelihood Dynamics in Henan County on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau—A Transdisciplinary Systems Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaomeng Lucock

    (Department of Agribusiness and Markets, Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand)

  • Keith Woodford

    (Department of Land Management and Systems, Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand)

  • Xilai Li

    (College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China)

Abstract

Since the 1950s, Henan County on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (the Plateau) has experienced notable changes in its ecological and socio-economic environments, posing challenges to livelihood sustainability. Adopting a mixed method of qualitative interviews, field observations, and statistical data analysis, these changing livelihoods were investigated from a transdisciplinary systems perspective. The aim of this research was to develop an understanding of the relationships between changing land use and the livelihood dynamics on an ecologically fragile land. Results indicate that increasing human and animal populations, together with increasing connectivity between the Plateau and the lowlands, have led to increasing flows of nutrients to the lowlands. The increasing product flows, including the use of dung which is used for heating both on the Plateau and as a Plateau export, together with a lack of nutrients returning to the grasslands, have contributed to the present sustainability challenges. In this study, the transdisciplinary systems perspective provides an overarching integrative framework that transcends the individual socio-economic and biophysical system components, thereby providing key insights not available from within individual disciplines. More detailed analyses are now required, still within a transdisciplinary framework, to quantify specific relationships.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaomeng Lucock & Keith Woodford & Xilai Li, 2022. "Sustainable Land Use and Livelihood Dynamics in Henan County on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau—A Transdisciplinary Systems Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-22, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:13:p:7785-:d:848233
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/13/7785/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/13/7785/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lucock, Xiaomeng & Woodford, Keith, 2018. "Pastoral farming on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau," International Journal of Agricultural Management, Institute of Agricultural Management, vol. 6(3-4), January.
    2. Aznar-Sánchez, José A. & Piquer-Rodríguez, María & Velasco-Muñoz, Juan F. & Manzano-Agugliaro, Francisco, 2019. "Worldwide research trends on sustainable land use in agriculture," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    3. Zhuang, Minghao & Gongbuzeren, & Zhang, Jian & Li, Wenjun, 2019. "Community-based seasonal movement grazing maintains lower greenhouse gas emission intensity on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 155-160.
    4. Cao, Jianjun & Li, Guangdong & Adamowski, Jan F. & Holden, Nicholas M. & Deo, Ravinesh C. & Hu, Zeyong & Zhu, Guofeng & Xu, Xueyun & Feng, Qi, 2019. "Suitable exclosure duration for the restoration of degraded alpine grasslands on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 261-267.
    5. Jane Qiu, 2016. "Trouble in Tibet," Nature, Nature, vol. 529(7585), pages 142-145, January.
    6. Wang, Weijun & Zhao, Xueyan & Cao, Jianjun & Li, Hua & Zhang, Qin, 2020. "Barriers and requirements to climate change adaptation of mountainous rural communities in developing countries: The case of the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Andreas Breidenbach & Per-Marten Schleuss & Shibin Liu & Dominik Schneider & Michaela A. Dippold & Tilman Haye & Georg Miehe & Felix Heitkamp & Elke Seeber & Kyle Mason-Jones & Xingliang Xu & Yang Hua, 2022. "Microbial functional changes mark irreversible course of Tibetan grassland degradation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Shirvani Dastgerdi, Ahmadreza & Sargolini, Massimo & Broussard Allred, Shorna & Chatrchyan, Allison Morrill & Drescher, Michael & DeGeer, Christopher, 2022. "Climate change risk reduction in cultural landscapes: Insights from Cinque Terre and Waterloo," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    3. Barasa Bernard & Majaliwa J. G. Mwanjalolo & Banduga Moses & Katwere James & Magaya Paul & Sadadi Ojoatre & Wanjiru Lydia & Margaret N. Walusimbi, 2022. "A Simplified Spatial Methodology for Assessing Land Productivity Status in Africa," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-19, May.
    4. Wen Zhao & Yali Yin & Shixiong Li & Jingjing Liu & Yiling Dong & Shifeng Su, 2022. "Soil Microbial Community Varied with Vegetation Types on a Small Regional Scale of the Qilian Mountains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-15, June.
    5. Dacinia Crina Petrescu & Florina Bran & Carmen Valentina Radulescu & Ruxandra Malina Petrescu-Mag, 2020. "Green Procurement through Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification in the Private Sector. Perceptions and Willingness to Buy of Private Companies from Romania," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 22(53), pages 1-42, February.
    6. Ernesto Mesa-Vázquez & Juan F. Velasco-Muñoz & José A. Aznar-Sánchez & Belén López-Felices, 2021. "Three Decades of Behavioural Economics in Agriculture. An Overview of Global Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-21, September.
    7. Bojnec, Štefan & Fertő, Imre, 2022. "Do different types of Common Agricultural Policy subsidies promote farm employment?," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    8. Zhuang, Minghao & Lu, Xi & Peng, Wei & Wang, Yanfen & Wang, Jianxiao & Nielsen, Chris P. & McElroy, Michael B., 2021. "Opportunities for household energy on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in line with United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    9. Huixia Zou & Shaowei Li & Huiyuan Zou & Wei Sun & Yingnan Niu & Chengqun Yu, 2022. "Livelihood Sustainability of Herder Households in North Tibet, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-14, April.
    10. Mideksa, Babu & Muluken, Gezahegn & Eric, Ndemo, 2023. "The impact of soil and water conservation practices on food security in eastern Ethiopia. A propensity score matching approach," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    11. Maritza Satama & Eva Iglesias, 2020. "Fuzzy Cognitive Map Clustering to Assess Local Knowledge of Ecosystem Conservation in Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-26, March.
    12. Belén López-Felices & José A. Aznar-Sánchez & Juan F. Velasco-Muñoz & María Piquer-Rodríguez, 2020. "Contribution of Irrigation Ponds to the Sustainability of Agriculture. A Review of Worldwide Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-18, July.
    13. Morugán-Coronado, Alicia & Linares, Carlos & Gómez-López, María Dolores & Faz, Ángel & Zornoza, Raúl, 2020. "The impact of intercropping, tillage and fertilizer type on soil and crop yield in fruit orchards under Mediterranean conditions: A meta-analysis of field studies," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    14. Yan Yu & Ya Wu & Pan Wang & Yili Zhang & Liang Emlyn Yang & Xian Cheng & Jianzhong Yan, 2021. "Grassland Subsidies Increase the Number of Livestock on the Tibetan Plateau: Why Does the “Payment for Ecosystem Services” Policy Have the Opposite Outcome?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-20, May.
    15. Bayu Dwi Anggono & Rofi Wahanisa & Cairin Melina, 2023. "Determinants of Sustainable Land Use Change in Agricultural Utilization and Environmental Performance," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 13(3), pages 545-551, May.
    16. Azlan, Zulfadli Hazim Zul & Junaini, Syahrul Nizam & Bolhassan, Noor Alamshah, 2024. "Evidence of the potential benefits of digital technology integration in Asian agronomy and forestry: A systematic review," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    17. Chen, Xin & Yu, Le & Du, Zhenrong & Liu, Zhu & Qi, Yuan & Liu, Tao & Gong, Peng, 2022. "Toward sustainable land use in China: A perspective on China’s national land surveys," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    18. Meike Fienitz & Rosemarie Siebert, 2022. "“It Is a Total Drama”: Land Use Conflicts in Local Land Use Actors’ Experience," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-20, April.
    19. Inoussa Guinin Asso & Soulé Akinhola Adéchian & Mohamed Salifou & Bédé Prudence M’po Kouyinampou & Bruno Charles Pierre O’heix & Mohamed Nasser Baco, 2022. "Effects of the Systematic Cluster Approach (SCA) and Rural Land Plans (RLPs) on Land Tenure Security for Agricultural Household: Insight from Benin (West Africa)," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-14, September.
    20. Qi, Yingjun & Zeren, Gongbu & Li, Wenjun, 2023. "Community-based climate adaption: A perspective on the interface between a common pool resource system and an individual-based market transaction system," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:13:p:7785-:d:848233. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.