Integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge into Land Use and Land Cover Change Assessments, Pastoralist Communities in Northwest Inner Mongolia China

Siru A, Bingxue Xie, Menghe Wuliji () and Lisheng Zhao ()
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Siru A: Center for Studies of Ethnic Minorities in Northwest China, College of History and Culture, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
Bingxue Xie: Center for Studies of Ethnic Minorities in Northwest China, College of History and Culture, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
Menghe Wuliji: School of Ethnology and Sociology, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
Lisheng Zhao: Center for Studies of Ethnic Minorities in Northwest China, College of History and Culture, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-16

Abstract: Land use and land cover (LULC) changes are the primary drivers of ecosystem transformation and have substantial impacts on local livelihoods. However, most research has focused on assessing the intensity of these changes in specific regions using remotely sensed data, thus generalizing trends and often overlooking the nuanced effects on local communities and their adaptive strategies. In this study, we integrated traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) with a remote sensing analysis to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of LULC changes and their social implications. Our results indicate that the grassland area in the studied region decreased significantly from 1985 to 2020, primarily due to socioeconomic development and rising temperatures, with a significant negative correlation observed between the size of the grassland area and livestock numbers. This loss of grassland has deeply affected the well-being and sustainability of pastoralist communities, whose livelihoods are intimately tied to grazing resources. A notable shift occurred around 2000; before this period, the grassland area was relatively stable, and camel populations were gradually declining. However, after 2000, grassland loss accelerated, accompanied by an increase in camel numbers. This trend reflects local herders’ adaptive strategies, as they leveraged ecological knowledge to adjust livestock composition in favor of camels, which are better suited to cope with the diminished grassland. By combining remote sensing data with TEK, we provide an integrated, longitudinal perspective on vegetation and livelihood changes. These insights are essential for shaping sustainable development policies in arid regions, where fostering ecological resilience and supporting community adaptation are critical.

Keywords: LULC; TEK; camel; sustainable development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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