Vol. 4 · No. 1 · 2000
Tough Times For Tibetan Nomads In Western China
Snowstorms, Settling Down, Fences And The Demise Of Traditional Nomadic Pastoralism

Daniel J. Miller

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Abstract

Rangelands of the Tibetan Plateau in western China encompass about 168 million hectares, 42 per cent of China's total rangeland area, and support an estimated two million nomadic pastoralists. As such, the Tibetan nomadic pastoral area, a sub-region of the Tibetan Plateau, is one of the world 's largest pastoral areas. The fact that this area has supported nomadic pastoralism for millennia while sustaining a unique flora and fauna indicates the existence of a remarkable pastoral ecosystem.