Case study 7: Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau rangelands.

The rangelands of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau cover an extensive area on the roof of the world. Grazing animals, principally yaks and sheep, and grazing-based livestock production systems remain an important source of livelihood. The rangelands have developed under a continental climate that is one of the most severe in the world where pastoral livestock production continues to be practised. The traditional forage-based, extensively managed pastoral livestock production systems are showing a decline in overall productivity and about one-third of the rangelands exhibit severe degradation. Reasons for this situation are examined here.