Selenium intake and urinary and fecal Se excretion of 10 healthy men from a low Se area in China were determined for three consecutive days, in summer, fall, and winter of 1983, and the spring of 1984 while self-selected diets were being consumed. Mean daily Se intake was 8.8 micrograms/day with a range of 2.3-35.5 micrograms/day, and was far below the recommended range of safe and adequate Se intake of 50-200 micrograms Se/day (National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council). Mean urinary and fecal Se outputs were 3.7 and 3.4 micrograms Se/day, respectively. Mean Se balance during this time was +1.8 micrograms Se/day. Apparent absorption of Se approximated 57%. The low Se intake in this area is a cause for concern since the residents of Molimo may be at risk for Se deficiency diseases.

This paper describes the climatic, ecological, social and institutional features that characterize pastoral socio-ecological systems and identify some of the recent pressures and changes that are occurring within them. Traditional and emerging paradigms in the field of rangeland management are also described as well as the changing meaning and role of community and the current understanding of vulnerability and resilience. The framework presented at the end of the paper draws on these elements and highlights characteristics and linkages that can lead to resilient pastoral social- ecological systems and the role of community-based rangeland management in this process.

This paper describes an experimental project in Huolonggou Tibetan village aimed at slowing the rate of grassland degradation by working on capacity building within the community. The NGO staff helped the community to set up a Community-Based Grassland Management Group and to rebuild the basic structure of the community's grassland Code of Conduct, which had been disrupted in the years since the founding of the People's Republic of China. The NGO and the villagers worked together to protect and restore the grasslands. An assessment, conducted by the villagers themselves in 2009, concluded that, over the 2 years previous, the project had helped dramatically to alleviate the degradation of the grasslands.