Paper short abstract:

"DAI MU" is a response to solving the the issues occurred in transhumance system . It has led to overgrazing, unsustainability of the livelihood and broken of the social- ecological system in local community.

Paper long abstract:

Although Kazakh communities of Xinjiang still keep three-season transhumance pattern of production, the lower profit and higher risk (vulnerability) of individual herder household's management have gradually emerged since the Rangeland Household Contract Policy was implemented thirty years ago, which have caused some herders facing the risk of bankruptcy. Simultaneously, some farmer households in the neighboring agriculture areas are starting to purchase livestock and pay herder households to raise on the pastoral areas. This kind of "absence of livestock owner" is called "DAI MU" in our study. Why does Dai Mu phenomenon arise? And what are the effects of "DAI MU" on pastoral ecosystem, livelihood of herders, and social—ecological system. Taking T village of Nileke county of Yili prefecture as case study area, based on the field works we find that that: 1). "DAI MU" emerged in Northern Xinjiang is a response to solving the the issues occurred in transhumance system caused by Rangeland Household Contract Policy. 2). The influx of massive outsider's livestock has led to overgrazing.3) "DAI MU", in a certain extent, though could solve the livelihood issues of those herder households without livestock , but in the end may result in unsustainability and more risky of the livelihood. 4) "DAI MU" may cause broken of the social- ecological system in local community.

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