Differential analysis of herdsmen of different size scales and main contributors to grassland overgrazing——A case study in Maqu, Gansu Province

Overgrazing has become a major inducing factor of grassland degradation, and the motivation of pastoralists seeking to maximize the economic benefits was the root cause of overgrazing. This study found that Single-Households, Small-Joint Households, and Large-Joint Households were the main contributors to grassland overgrazing, especially in terms of the overgrazing rate and degree. In order to maintain the family balance of income and expenditure and cope with the future unknown risks, the actual minimum number of livestock was higher than the theoretical minimum number. Thus, the pasture-overgrazing rate and degree of the Single-Households were significantly higher than the Joint Households, and the Medium-Joint Households were the main contributors while large-scale herders were the least. The households or herders were presented with the Forge-Livestock Balance Incentives of Rangeland Ecological Compensation Policy. The policy did not consider the differences, in scale, of the herdsmen and ignored their heterogeneity and the losses incurred due to reducing livestock. Moreover, the compensation standard was only linked with the area under grassland, owing to which the compensation received by small and medium-scale herders did not pay off the opportunity loss caused by reducing livestock. Therefore, the relationship between reducing livestock and compensation was unequal. As such, the policy could not promote the income of small and medium-scale herders, and widened the income gap with large-scale herders and triggered low efficiency of Rangeland Ecological Compensation Policy. In response to this phenomenon, the government should develop differentiated Rangeland Ecological Compensation Standards, and recognize the peering relationships of reducing livestock and compensation.