Centralisation of Livestock and Grassland Management Through Cooperatives in Tibetan Pastoral Areas of Qinghai, People’s Republic of China

Since the turn of the century, the state in China has systematically increased its control over the grasslands on the High Plateau and animal husbandry in general. The growing centralisation and industrialisation of animal husbandry enables the exploitation of this resource and its transformation from a local product to a commodity available country-wide. After the mass urbanisation of grassland areas and sedentarisation of the pastoralists during the last two decades, it is easier for the state to step in and take control of the livestock industry. This trend started with the promotion of cooperative herding and is now expanding through the establishment of large industrial parks where agricultural products are processed.