Effects of grazing prohibition on restoration of degraded grassland

The grassland is one of important agriculture natural resources. However, the grassland degraded seriously in China because of overgrazing. At the beginning of 21st century, enclosure was praised highly as a primary mean for grassland ecological restoration in west China. Effects of enclosure on the vegetation, soil and grassland ecosystem restoration were reviewed in this paper. It was concluded that the moderate grazing is necessary to restore degraded grassland and long-term enclosure is not as good as expected. According to the degree of grassland degradation in different regions, the enclosure should be flexibly combined with reasonable rotation grazing intensity and time to restore degraded grassland and get animal products simultaneously. It was suggested that the grassland ecological system will be sustainable and in good balance when grassland and animals are in win-win.