The endurance of nomadic pastoralism in Tibet provides examples of nomadic practices that were once widespread throughout the pastoral world, but are now increasingly harder to find. As such, Tibetan nomads offer a rare chance to learn more about a remarkable way of life that is quickly disappearing from the earth. Daniel J. Miller, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Animal Production in the Institute of Land and Food Resources, is conducting research on rangeland dynamics, wildlife and nomadic production systems on the Tibetan Plateau for a dissertation. Fresh perspectives emerging about non-equilibrial ecosystem dynamics in pastoral areas and new concepts about plant successional processes provide interesting frameworks for analysing Tibetan rangelands. Exploring the relevance of these new ideas could have important implications for the management of Tibetan pastoral areas.
Wildlife are an important part of the ecology of Tibetan rangelands in many areas.
Daniel is looking at new ideas in metapopulation dynamics and stochastic models to help explain the ecology of Tibetan wildlife, especially the wild yak which is a keystone specis on the Tibetan plateau. Nomads and their livestock are also an important part of the Tibetan rangeland ecosystem and Daniel, who speaks Tibetan, is conducting research among Tibetan nomads in order to better understand their pastoral production system. Improved understanding of rangeland and wildlife ecology and Tibetan nomads' practices should help resolve wildlife-livestock conflicts in national parks and reserves, thereby conserving Tibet's biodiversity. Wild yak bull in the Chang Tang Wildlife Reserve, Tibetan Autonomous Region, China. Tibetan wild ass in the Chang Tang Wildlife Reserve, Tibetan Autonomous Region, China.