Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 2 hrs ago
Researchers assess winter grazing and new monitoring tools in the Qilian Mountains
Herders from Qinghai and Gansu are moving cattle and sheep to winter pasture in Zhangye, in northwest China, under an arrangement known as borrowed grazing.
The move gives livestock access to other land and is intended to help balance grazing with available grass and feed.
Lanzhou University researchers are measuring its costs and benefits by surveying herders and testing soil before and after grazing.
Early data suggest one year of borrowed grazing can raise soil organic matter by one to three percentage points, which the team says is equivalent to using one kilogram less fertilizer per mu of land.
The researchers are also using AI to count livestock and estimate grazing pressure across an area.
In the Qilian Mountains nature reserve, AI alerts are being tested on 95 camera feeds to flag people and vehicles entering重点 areas, helping staff check possible problems more quickly.
Further research will track grassland, wildlife and longer-term grazing effects, to assess the environmental impact and support grassland protection and herders' incomes.
Since October 2026, herders from Qinghai and Gansu have moved cattle and sheep to Gaotai County in Zhangye for winter grazing.
Lanzhou University researchers are studying the economic effects and ecological impact of this grazing arrangement.
Early data indicate that one year of grazing increased soil organic matter by 1 to 3 percentage points.
Researchers are testing an AI model to identify and count livestock and estimate grazing intensity.
In the Qilian Mountain National Nature Reserve, AI cameras, satellite monitoring and other tools are being used to help detect and assess possible problems.
- Who
- Herders from Qilian County in Qinghai and Sunan County in Gansu, and research teams from Lanzhou University.
- What
- Researchers are assessing the effects of moving livestock to other areas for winter grazing and testing new monitoring tools.
- When
- Herders have been moving livestock since October 2026. The article was published on November 1, 2026.
- Where
- Gaotai County in Zhangye, Gansu, and the Qilian Mountains, including the Qilian Mountain National Nature Reserve.
- Why
- The grazing arrangement is intended to improve the use of farming and pastoral resources and balance livestock with available grass. Researchers aim to assess its effects and support grassland protection and herder incomes.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Herders from parts of Qinghai and Gansu began bringing cattle and sheep to Gaotai County for winter grazing.
The reserve began an artificial intelligence trial using 95 camera feeds.
China News Service published its report on the research and monitoring efforts.
- Winter grazing destination
- Gaotai County, Zhangye, Gansu
- Soil organic matter
- Increased by 1 to 3 percentage points after one year of grazing, according to preliminary data
- AI camera trial
- 95 camera feeds
- Monitoring network
- More than 700 mobile terminals
- Protected area
- 19,800 square kilometres of mountain forest
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What people are saying
Our current data show that after one year of grazing, soil organic matter will increase by 1 to 3 percentage points.
Now we use our own AI model, combined with big data, and we can automatically identify cattle and sheep.
If it detects situations such as tourists hiking across the area or camping, it can also trigger an AI assessment and warning.