Transforming Degraded Rangelands and Pastoralists' Livelihoods in Eastern Bhutan

Abstract

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Collaborative Modeling and Simulation to Mitigate High-Elevation Rangeland Degradation in Eastern Bhutan

“…Increasing human and cattle populations and reduced vegetative cover accelerate the risk of soil erosion in this subalpine grassy area with sparsely distributed trees (many of them lopped by Brokpas to feed yaks during winter) and shrubs of Rhododendron species. Following intensive rainfall events, an impressive ravine originated from the Sheytimi rangeland (Millar and Tenzing 2021). Overgrazing and indiscriminate lopping of trees for fodder, combined with soil compaction due to trampling by livestock over a long period of time, has led to the severe degradation of most of this tsamdrog (Moktan et al 2008;Tenzing et al 2017b).…”

“…There is therefore a need for methods that promote exchanges among stakeholders in general and mitigate rangeland use conflicts between sedentary and seminomadic herder communities due to ineffective institutional regimes and arrangements (Gentle and Thwaites 2016). This is the case of the eastern Bhutanese high-elevation pastures or tsamdrogs (Turkelboom et al 2001;Gyamtsho 2002;Ura 2002;Moktan et al 2006;Dervill e and Bonnemaire 2010;Millar and Tenzing 2021;Namgay et al 2021). Here, land degradation is partly due to overgrazing limiting natural regeneration (Gibson 1991;Dorji 1993;Gyamtsho 1996;Gyeltshen 2010;Tenzing et al 2018).…”

“…Most of the participants found the fencing option innovative, realistic, and useful to sustain the forage resource base. The enhanced shared awareness of the problem and discovery of ways to improve the situation promptly initiated the development of social capital among the workshop attendees ahead of the initiation of important development-oriented landscape restoration interventions in the watershed (Wangchuk et al 2009;UNDP 2013;Millar and Tenzing 2021).…”

“…This permitted the organization and smooth implementation of the final third collective gaming session with disclosure of local strategies in real-life situations and unrestricted knowledge sharing among the 12 herders. This is important, as the degree of trust among individual participants influences long-term interdependence in situations of social dilemmas, higher levels of trust resulting in increased cooperation among stakeholders (Chaudhuri et al 2002;Millar and Tenzing 2021).…”