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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2021, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (9): 168-181.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2021058

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Sustainable development of family ranches in the Inner Mongolian grassland

Qing ZHANG1,3(), Lu-yao LIU1, Xue XU1, Peng HAN1, Yan-yun ZHAO1, Jian-ming NIU1,3, Yong DING2,3()   

  1. 1.School of Ecology and Environment,Inner Mongolia University,Hohhot 010021,China
    2.Grassland Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Hohhot 010010,China
    3.Collaborative Innovation Center for Grassland Ecological Security,Hohhot 010021,China
  • Received:2021-02-08 Revised:2021-04-12 Online:2021-08-30 Published:2021-08-30
  • Contact: Yong DING

Abstract:

The Inner Mongolian grasslands are an integral part of the arid and semi-arid steppes of central and eastern Asia, and are currently attracting topical research in a number of fields. The family ranch is the primary production and management unit of the area. It is helpful to provide the scientific basis for regional sustainability by exploring the requirements for sustainable development of the family ranch. Firstly, this article expounds the formation process and definition of the family ranch in the Inner Mongolian grasslands. Next, recent research progress relating to family ranch sustainability from the perspectives of the natural ecosystem, the socio-economic system, and the natural-economic-social system, is summarized. Finally, six current research thrusts for further enhancing the sustainability of the family ranch are discussed. These include: Adherence to the concept of grass-based livestock husbandry, reliance on the guidance of the landscape sustainability considerations, strengthening coupling of research across three interfaces, expanding sandy grasslands, focusing on future development models and recognition of the importance of technical support. It is hoped that this article will elicit more targeted suggestions for the sustainable development of the family ranch in the Inner Mongolian grasslands and provide reference information for developing the sustainability of arid and semi-arid grassland systems worldwide.

Key words: family ranch, natural-economic-social complex ecosystem, sustainable development, Inner Mongolian grassland