Effect of prohibiting grazing policy in northern China: a case study of Yanchi County

The prohibiting grazing policy (PGP) of the government "one size fits all" achieved certain effects, but also brought a series of issues. This article used a case study in the middle north of China to focus on the comparative study of three different degrees of illegal livestock grazing management patterns formed after PGP. The causes and characteristics of the illegal behavior and the impact to grassland ecosystem, social, and economic system were studied. The results showed that resource endowments and interest driven were the main causes for illegal grazing. The eco-economic analysis of "continuous grazing" pattern was poor, whereas the "breeding zone" and "barn feeding" pattern were relatively good. Grassland use still has great potential, and management patterns need to change.