Reaction of the Inhabitants to Grazing Ban : Case Study of Alashan, Inner Mongolia, China

The grazing forbidden policy is an important ecological project that was implemented at the beginning of this century in different regions in China. Yet, various problems emerged during its implementation. At an early stage, majority of the farmers could not get enough subsidies because of the incomplete compensation system. The objective of this study is to investigate the ecological compensation of the grazing forbidden project and draw up criteria for the life-style of the farmers in the areas covered by this project. A questionnaire survey and follow up interviews were conducted in Alashan prefecture of Inner Mongolia. The results indicated that in a later stage the farmers received more support from the government by receiving compensation for the added value of losing the rights to use their lands as well. At the end, policies and measures to establish and fulfill the ecological compensation mechanism in the grazing forbidden areas are also discussed.