Transforming the management of grassland ecosystems to foster inclusive and equitable conservation and reduce wealth inequality between wealthy and poor herders in Inner Mongolia.
44.026, 113.515999
OUTPUT
Over 13,000 participants have received training in GSM through local coordinators who are trusted by the close-knit community.
OUTCOME
TNC aims to form up to 6 cooperatives involving poor and rich herding families to mitigate herding risks and equitably share economic benefits of GSM.
HIGHLIGHT
GSM has already been implemented on over 10,000 hectares of grassland in spring and summer of 2022 (167% of yearly target).
My dream is to conserve my community’s grazing lands
Our Commitment
The 3-year partnership sees the Julius Baer Foundation and TNC working with local communities to reduce wealth inequality through 4 key actions:
- training up to 4,000 people in Grassland Smart Management (GSM);
- helping up to 100 herder households eliminate their debt;
- forming up to six cooperatives involving 30 poor and rich herding households who will equitably share economic benefits and work together to mitigate risks;
- implementing GSM on up to 10,000 ha. of grasslands, restoring the health and resilience of the ecosystem.
In Inner Mongolia, environmental degradation is a cause and a consequence of wealth inequality.
Grasslands are the key ecosystem of the Region, comprising nearly three quarters of its territory. But the effects of overgrazing and climate change have led to degradation on 90% of the local grasslands, which can no longer produce enough forage to meet livestock needs.
Local herders are forced to buy extra forage to keep their livestock fed, increasing their annual expenses, which often end up exceeding their income. Thus indebted, they try to increase their income by overgrazing; 40% of them also rent land to wealthy herders whose livestock overgraze, triggering further soil degradation and worsening conditions for the poorer herding families. The cycle keeps on widening the wealth gap.
TNC programme in Inner Mongolia tackles the issue by training local herders in Grassland Smart Management (GSM), a sustainable grazing technique that restores soil resilience and health.
To reduce or avoid the herders' debt, TNC is also providing them with supplemental forage. Those who practice GSM on their lands need to pay back only 50% of the cost of this supplemental forage.
The project aims to strengthen the local community by fostering the creation of cooperatives that integrate poor and wealthy herders, who will collaborate to reduce economic risks and build sustainable livelihoods.
Become a Changemaker
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, scholar or financial supporter, there are many ways you can contribute to The Nature Conservancy and help tackle wealth inequality in China.
From a vicious cycle …
Overgrazed grasslands cause forage shortage for small herder families. To maintain their livestock, they must buy forage from the wealthy herders. Indebted, they need to rent out their lands and overgraze their remaining fields even further.
... to a virtuous cycle.
By adhering to GSM, herders can borrow TNC forage at reduced rates and return 50%, steadily finding their way out of debt. Cooperatives amongst herding families incentivise the restoration of their grasslands through shared profit increases.
