Human use and conservation planning in Alpine areas of Northwestern Yunnan,China |
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Authors: | Mark T Buntaine Renée B Mullen James P Lassoie |
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Institution: | (1) Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology Graduate Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA;(2) The Nature Conservancy, Owyhee Plaza, 1109 Main Street, Suite 333, Boise, ID 83702, USA;(3) Department of Natural Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA |
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Abstract: | Alpine areas in northwestern Yunnan, China possess globally significant levels of biodiversity and are important locally for
livelihood activities such as livestock grazing and medicinal plant collection. Because local land use has important impacts
on alpine conditions and communities have significant capacity to manage alpine resources, we emphasized local collaboration
during the initial stages of conservation planning. Our collaboration with local communities investigated how livelihood strategies
affect the condition of alpine resources in northwestern Yunnan and how future conservation efforts can be compatible with
local livelihoods. We sampled three livestock herding sites, each within a different alpine sub-region, using open-ended interviews
and maximum variation sampling. According to interviewees, livestock grazing within the alpine zone currently does not appear
to be negatively impacting the availability of forage. Medicinal plant collection, however, is showing unsustainable trends.
Tourism is as yet a nascent industry, but is seen as having great potential by those interviewed. It is clear that with increases
in population, access to regional markets, and tourism, northwestern Yunnan’s rich alpine resources will require careful management.
In addition to the data collected, we found that the methodology used may be widely applicable to organizations with limited
resources that wish to engage local communities during the formative stages of regional-level conservation planning. |
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Keywords: | alpine community resource management conservation planning herding livelihood change maximum variation sampling medicinal plants northwestern Yunnan rural development tourism |
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