ICIMOD'S Regional Rangeland Programme and the Objectives of the Lhasa Regional Workshop

摘要

More than 60% of the Hindu Kush-Himalayan and Tibetan plateau region consists of rangeland ecosystems and is much like rangeiands of other parts of the world: a marginal resource, naturally low in productivity, and highly variable in terms of water and forage availability. These rangeiands support a large livestock industry, accommodate important watershed functions, and provide valuable and biologically diverse resources. They also reflect a diverse cultural landscape, concurrently shaped by physical forces and human use. It is important to view rangeiands not only as a resource to sustain livestock, but also as a complex environment with a diverse array of amenities and possibilities and a rich cultural milieu. However, despite the importance of rangeland resources to local and national economies, most government and development agencies have neglected them, even though the potential of rangeiands to contribute significantly to economic development and biodiversity conservation is high.