A survey of herdsmen’s ecological consciousness in Hulunbeier grassland

To access the ecological consciousness of herdsmen in ecological frangibility of grassland areas, an ecological consciousness survey was conducted under the auspices of Chenbaerhu in Hulunbeier, Inner Mongolia. This survey items included knowledge, perception and attitude of herdsmen towards grassland protection, perception on degradation of grassland environment, and reality and expected behavior of grassland protection. The survey shows that herdsmen’s levels of ecological consciousness vary with age, nationality and education. However, the level of knowledge, willingness and conduct of the herdsmen regarding ecological consciousness is dissymmetrical. The level of knowledge is higher than the level of willingness, which is in turn higher than the level of conduct. To improve this situation and develop a conservation culture, it is admittedly necessary not only to strengthen education and training about grassland ecology and environment, but also to motivate the willingness and conduct by strengthened infrastructures of grassland protection, and improved policies and legal systems.