Collaborative Life Protection Plan for the Lower Lhasa River Valley Area in China Based on Animal Release Behaviors

Abstract

Due to the harsh conditions in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in China, indigenous people have deep compassion on lives. Therefore, animal release has become a traditional activity praying for blessings. However, irrational release behaviors have become increasingly common—they blindly pursue the number and species of animals to be released while ignoring their adaptability to the release habitats, creating a vicious cycle of “release–capture–sell” and raising people’s and human-nature conflicts. This study focuses on the lower Lhasa River valley in south-central Tibet in China and proposed a collaborative life protection plan with respect of local culture. Through in-depth analysis of the needs of different stakeholders, this study established a new cooperative relationship, where the Tibetan Farmers’ and Herdsmen’s Economic Cooperatives would function as the core to standardize the trading process and promote scientific animal release. Based on the habitat suitability evaluation, this study developed release process optimization, habitat planning for released species, and ecological restoration planning to build the landscape structure of “vegetation–sacred place–life release spots” for environmental sustainability. This collaborative life protection plan contributes to establishing a healthier, harmonious, equal, and loving values on life and interpersonal relationships, thereby bringing about more profound social, economic, and environmental benefits.

Keywords

Lhasa River / Animal Release Behaviors / Collaborative Conservation / Ecological Restoration / Tibet

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