Abstract
The integrity of eco-environment in Inner Mongolia grassland plays a significant role in maintaining regional ecosystem and socio-economic development. Furthermore, it is closely related to the eco-balance of the nation as a whole as well as social stability of the region. However, since the late 20th century, grassland in Inner Mongolia has plunged into an ecological crisis with increasingly severe grassland deterioration over the years. This situation has further imposed a negative impact on socio-economic development and the inhabitants’ livelihoods within the region. In this paper, the economic development of livestock farming along with agricultural policies has been reviewed in detail since the establishment of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Permanent settlement of nomadic herders and privatization of collective grasslands has disrupted traditional rotational herding where sufficient rest period and space were provided for the regrowth of plant life. It has also led to deviations from ecologically virtuous cycles in terms of grassland utilization. Moreover, expanding cultivation of grassland has taken its toll on the grassland plants, destroying the sustainability of local ecosystem. At the same time, cultivation of grassland with poor ecosystem brings up the lurking issue of sustaining crop security for the nation in the long run. Therefore, from an ecosystem sustainability standpoint, it is inevitable for us to reevaluate and readjust current Land-use policies implemented across the Inner Mongolia region.
