Analysis of the economic and ecological benefits of the pastoral households based ecotourism in the steppe region of Inner Mongolia

Grassland ecosystems provide multiple services to human society, covering pastoral production, environmental regulation, biodiversity conservation and cultural and natural leisure pursuits. Eco-tourism based on the magnificent steppe landscapes and unique Mongolian culture is an important option for the use of the vast steppe grasslands in Northern China to benefits of economic development and ecological security in the region. However, the economic and ecological effects of the ecotourism operated by local herder families have not been well evaluated.In this study,we investigated the family economy and assessed grassland ecological status of the 45 pairs of " Tourism + Livestock Production” versus " Pure Livestock Production” pastoral households in the typical steppe region in central Inner Mongolia. We found that 1) The average total income of " Tourism + Livestock Production” households (60 600 CNY) was significantly higher than that of " Pure Livestock Production” households(11 400 CNY) (P < 0.01); 2) The average annual net income from tourism business (65 300 CNY) was similar to that of livestock production (66 400 CNY) in the " Tourism + Livestock Production” households; 3) The grasslands of the " Tourism + Livestock Production” households had greater vegetation cover, and contained a lower proportion of the indicator species for grassland degradation, than that of " Pure Livestock Production” households, indicating a better pasture status. The operation of ecotourism in herders' family grasslands reauries only small investment but yields significant economic and ecological benefits. We therefore concluded that ecotourism is an important alteration to pastoral production in the steppe region to allow sustainable grassland resources use and achieve the dual goals of ecological protection and socio-economic development. The awareness of ecological knowledge and protection in ecotourism should be invreased.