The Bayanbulak grassland, the second largest grassland in China, is experiencing deterioration. An environmental emigration program is under way now in Xinjiang to protect the grassy plain.

The 23,853 square km grassland is located in the middle of the Tianshan Mountains. Its pasture area extends to almost 2 million hectares, and contains the famous national nature reserve Swan Lake. It is the source of Xinjiang's important river systems, and is known as the "water tower" of the region.

The grassland is in poor condition due to excessive feeding and continued drought over many years, as well as infestations of locusts and mice. The actual stock occupancy of the grassland exceeds its theoretical capacity by more than double.

The damaged area of the grassy plain now accounts for 67.3 percent of the total area, and desertification now threatens over 20,000 hectares.

China's central government attaches great importance to the control of land deterioration. It has budgeted 100 million yuan for an ecological protection and rehabilitation program. Additionally, the local regional government has also been taking measures to limit feeding since 2006, removing 354,900 sheep from the grassland.

Local governments have also encouraged residents to move their houses from the grassland, spending 10 million yuan to build homes in the plains area for the resettlement of poor families.

A year after the protection and emigration measures were put in place, the ecological system of the grassland is showing signs of improvement, with grass in some pastures already growing 10 cm higher. It is expected that 1400 households will move out of the grassland area and 1.4 million sheep will be removed from the pastures.

Relocation aimed at conservation

Lijie, in his fifties, whose parents and grand parents once herded in this grassland, has been living in the area since he was born. He enjoyed herding when he was very young, and he was also happy to drink milk tea in a yurt or lie on the grassland and sing folk songs.

But the place where Lijie once enjoyed his herding life has now become infertile. There are even sand dunes to be seen – totally different from the good old days.

"Overgrazing is a major factor behind the deterioration, as well as the influence of climate," said Cairen, the magistrate of Hejing County.

He previously called on the heads of the neighboring counties to reduce the grassland's sheep population, but ultimately his pleas fell on deaf ears. Controlling the number of livestock on the grassland is difficult because it takes even more effort to raise sheep in other areas.

However, the problem became critical. At this point the prefectural government initiated a series of measures to improve conditions on Bayanbulak. Rotation of herds, resting of pasture areas, and herding ban have been imposed to help rehabilitate the land. Limits on the number of livestock have also been implemented for every single family and community.

These measures will certainly have a negative effect on the quality of life of local herders. Of 4,000 families now living in the grassland area, some 1400 are living in poverty. The per capita net income of a herder in the area was 1,791 yuan (US$ 262) in 2005.

Supporting measures will be taken to encourage herders to move their houses and engage in farming or other manual activities to improve their living conditions.