Nomadic pastoralism in the Am basin of Tibet's

Nomadic pastoralists live at the northern extent o f human habitation within the ca. 5000 m elevation A r u basin, in the nortwestern part o f the Chang Tang Nature Preserve, Tibet. These nomads herd primarily sheep and goats, a lesser number o f yaks, and a few horses. Goats are increasing in importance because o f the value o f cashmere woo l i n national and international markets. Al though sheep woo l production is greater per animal than for the cashmere goats, the price obtained for its wool is much lower. Still, households keep more sheep than goats, primarily because sheep meat is preferred for consumption and sheep woo l is important for the nomads' own use. The A r u nomads have traditionally depended on hunting to compensate for livestock lost to predators and unpredictable climatic phenomena such as blizzards. The prohibit ion o f hunting in the reserve from 1993 has apparently resulted in a lowering o f their standard o f living, even with an overall rise in cashmere prices. According to the nomads, without hunting they have thus lost a safety measure important during years with heavy livestock losses. Conservation related development initiatives i n the reserve should address this issue.