Abstract:

The grazing prohibition policy is pivotal for the restoration of grassland ecology. A profound comprehension of the responses of farmers and herders to this policy is of utmost significance for its effective implementation and adjustment. This study centers on the areas surrounding Taratan in Gonghe County， a typical region where grazing prohibition efforts were initiated relatively early. Employing on-site visits and questionnaire surveys， an in-depth investigation and statistical analysis were carried out regarding the local farmers' and herders' awareness of the grazing prohibition policy， their production behaviors， and livelihood alterations. The findings reveal that the majority of farmers and herders express relatively high satisfaction with the grazing prohibition policy. To adapt to this policy， they predominantly adopt stall-feeding as a substitute for grazing. An increasing number of local inhabitants are choosing to seek non-agricultural and non-pastoral employment outside their hometowns， leading to a growing proportion of migrant workers. However， certain individuals with lower adaptability， such as middle-aged and elderly people， still harbor doubts about the grazing prohibition policy. In addition， the northern part of Taratan is less impacted by the grazing prohibition compared to the eastern and western regions. Based on these results， it is recommended to moderately enhance the grazing prohibition subsidy， with particular attention paid to families facing difficulties in accessing livelihood resources. Moreover， it is proposed to further strengthen the classified management of different types of grasslands to avoid the "one - size - fits - all" approach of the grazing prohibition policy. Additionally， it is advisable to further increase investment in local artificial forage projects， thereby resolving the local forage shortage problem and partially alleviating the employment issue.

Key words: Gonghe County, cognition of the grazing prohibition policy, response of production behaviors, response of livelihood changes, response differences