The Synergy Mechanism of Indigenous Wisdom and External Collaboration: A Case Study of Grassland Desertification Control in Xiaman Town, Zoigê

Abstract

The Ruoergai Prairie on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau is an important water conservation area for both the Yangtze and Yellow River upper reaches. The effectiveness of its desertification control directly relates to the national ecological security strategy. This study focuses on Manzhen, a town in Ruoergai County, and uses qualitative research methods to track the over 20-year-long collaborative desertification control practice between the "Green Camel" volunteer organization and local herders. The study systematically explores the integration mechanism between local ecological wisdom and the professional capabilities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The results show that the local knowledge system developed by herders through their long-standing traditional nomadic life, including "seasonal sand fixation strategies" and "selection and use of local plants," complements the modern scientific technologies and external resource networks brought by NGOs. These two components are deeply integrated through three pathways: "culture-adaptive organizational structure building," "participatory technology co-development," and "community co-management systems." The collaboration has successfully restored over 400 acres of desertified land and significantly increased the grassland vegetation coverage by 12%. This study further illustrates that a collaborative mechanism that truly respects and integrates local knowledge can effectively promote ecological restoration, economic development, and social progress in cold regions, providing important theoretical support and practical models for the sustainable governance of similarly ecologically fragile areas.