Tibetan pastoralists' attitudes toward grassland degradation and restoration
Data files
May 31, 2024 version files 42.40 KB
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Data_archive_Q_interviews.xlsx
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questionnaire.docx
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README.md
Abstract
Ecosystem restoration practices are gaining prominence in coping with the crisis of ecosystem degradation. To improve the long-term effectiveness of restoration activities, community engagement in restoration projects needs to be strengthened. In communities where traditional and local values drive adaptation to environmental changes, a community-engaged restoration approach requires the integration of restoration techniques and local value systems.
In two pastoral communities on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, we used the Q method to explore pastoralists’ attitudes towards grassland degradation and restoration and to understand different levels of community engagement in grassland restoration activities. Through this study, we aim to promote an understanding of the value-based approach of local communities to enable better community engagement for the long-term effectiveness of ecosystem restoration projects, and contribute to the achievement and synergy of global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The study revealed eight types of pastoralists with different attitudes in two communities, with the type of Active Agents leveraging transformative restoration action through creating value-inclusive narratives of grassland restoration in the community with a higher level of engagement in restoration practices. Alongside this, we explored the pastoralists’ perspectives of biodiversity in restoration and the importance of local elites in facilitating multiple-actor cooperation in restoration projects.
We recommend that decision-makers recognize the significance of local worldviews and values in facilitating environmental adaptations, as well as the irreplaceable role played by local people in developing value-inclusive narratives that align with the local cultural context. Open dialogues and sufficient communication between multiple stakeholders are needed to build mutual trust and accumulate social capital for driving transformative actions in traditional communities. Such approaches are essential to foster community engagement and gain better momentum in ecosystem management initiatives.
README: Data archive_Q interviews
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.jsxksn0jn
The data contains two sheets. The first sheet presents the results of the Q survey for the Nyanze community, and the second sheet presents the results of the Q survey for the Kouta community. The data sheet has two variables: "R" represents the respondent (e.g., "R1" indicates the first respondent, "R29" indicates the 29th respondent), and "sta" represents the statement (e.g., "sta_1" indicates Statement 1, "sta_25" indicates Statement 25). The scores show the respondents' degree of agreement or disagreement with each statement on a scale of -4 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree), with 0 being neutral.
This dataset was collected by the Q interviews. Before the interviews were conducted, all participants received verbal instructions based on the Participant Information Sheet, and consent was obtained using the Informed Consent Form. A snowball sampling method was used to recruit interviewees. We sought to maximize the diversity of attitudes and continued recruiting until no new attitude emerged. In this way, a total of 57 interviews were completed.
The questionnaire used in the Q interviews was included in this dataset.
Methods
This dataset was collected by the Q interviews. Before the interviews were conducted, all participants received verbal instructions based on the Participant Information Sheet, and consent was obtained using the Informed Consent Form. A snowball sampling method was used to recruit interviewees. We sought to maximize the diversity of attitudes and continued recruiting until no new attitude emerged. In this way, a total of 57 interviews were completed.