The potential of collective action in promoting sustainable rangeland management: evidence from pastoral China

Abstract

Rangelands cover ~54% of the Earth’s land surface, and in many regions, are under severe degradation pressure. Overgrazing is one of the main causes of degradation. In this study, we draw on household survey data collected between 2021 and 2023 in pastoral regions of China to examine whether collective action can help address overgrazing. Using a propensity score matching approach, we find that participation in collective action reduces overgrazing by 29.6% compared with similar households that did not participate. Specifically, cooperatives reduce overgrazing by 23.9%, whereas joint management shows a much large effect of 60.0%. The benefits are especially strong for herders with less education, lower income, or no family members in government leadership, which highlights the potential of collective action to foster inclusion and resilience. We identify several mechanisms at work, including promoting rotational grazing, enhancing livelihood diversity, and aligning ecological awareness with grazing practices. Policies that lower participation barriers, strengthen trust, expand knowledge-sharing networks, and ensure fair decision making can amplify the contribution of collective action to sustainable rangeland management and inclusive rural development.