Herders’ Preferences for Grassland Restoration Measures and Their Driving Factors in the Ruoergai Nature Reserve

Grasslands cover about 40% of Earth’s land, supporting millions of herders while providing vital ecological functions. Yet nearly half are degraded due to human activities and climate change. Herders, as primary users, shape restoration outcomes through their perceptions and choices. Based on a survey of 200 households in the Ruoergai National Nature Reserve, this study examined herders’ views on degradation causes and their preferences for four restoration measures: grazing exclusion, seeding with grazing exclusion, seasonal grazing rest, and balancing grazing capacity. Results show herders mainly attributed degradation to natural or biological factors (e.g., pikas, climate change), with limited recognition of overgrazing. Seasonal grazing rest was most preferred (47%), compared with seeding with grazing exclusion (10.5%), balancing grazing capacity (10.5%), and grazing exclusion (8.5%). Regression analysis indicated that motivation, perceptions of degradation, and prior experience significantly influenced choices. By comparing preferences across multiple measures, this study complements earlier single-focus research and offers insights for adaptive grassland management policies.