Exploring the potential of community-based grassland management in Yanchi County of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China: an application of the SWOT-AHP method

摘要

The study analyzed the prospects and challenges of community-based grassland management (CBGM) in Yanchi County of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China, using the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats approach combined with the analytic hierarchy process. Preference data were used from three stakeholder groups, namely, community, government, and academia, all of which are very familiar with Yanchi County. Representatives of local communities and academia perceive that the strengths and opportunities for CBGM outweigh its weaknesses and threats. However, representatives of government agencies hold an opposite view, as they anticipate that threats associated with the CBGM approach have the highest weight. We suggest the CBGM be implemented firstly in small villages, and then promoted in larger areas in the future.