Abstract
This paper investigates effects of land tenure systems on regional overgrazing, using the case of Mongolia and Inner Mongolia of China. Grassland in Mongolia is an open-access resource, while it is virtually allocated to an individual household in Inner Mongolia. Household surveys conducted in Tov Aimag and Khenti Aimag of Mongolia and in Siziwang Banner and Sunitezou Banner of Inner Mongolia have revealed that pastoral income per household is lower in areas near urban markets in Mongolia, while it is higher in Inner Mongolia. In Mongolia, due to high transportation costs, the livestock production is agglomerated in the suburbs of urban areas despite degradation of the grassland. In addition, the urban areas have advantages of access to various social services, making the problem of regional overgrazing persistent. In Inner Mongolia, on the other hand, herders living in the areas near a large city benefit frombetter market access. Thus, regional imbalance is minimal in Inner Mongolia and the livestock production has been shifted to be more intensive in Inner Mongolia, although its overall overgrazing problem is severe.
In Mongolia, investment in construction of a wells, which is essential to efficient use of pastureland, is less active. Instead of constructing their own well, herders in Mongolia tend to move to areas near existing public wells. As this situation continues, pastureland around the existing wells continues to be degraded.
Considering the unbalanced density of grazing and low incentive for investment, the current grassland management system in Mongolia is not sustainable. It calls for adequate government intervention, such as tax on grazing in the degraded areas and subsidies to transportation and public services in rural areas.
