Relationship between economic development and grassland degradation in northwest pastoral area

This study uses Gansu, Qinhai, Xinjiang Province as an example, building the EKC model and using the time series data to analyse the relationship between economic development and grassland degradation in northwest pastoral area in the last 30 years. The result indicated that the relationship between economic development and grassland degradation in northwest pastoral area accord with the EKC model. The inflection point of grassland resources degradation rate of Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang are on the 7 777.0 CNY, 21 752.6 CNY and 13 973.6 CNY of percapita income based on the forecast model. Grassland degradation rate in Gansu Province have passed turning point and tend to increase with the development of the economic. The degradation rate of Qinhai Province near the inflection points of the curve. The degradation rate of Xinjiang Province tend to decrase with the economic development. Comparing the prediction results with the primary industry output value of three provinces, Chinese government should formulate a valid policy that adapt to the special culture and geographic feature in Northwest China to relieve the economic pressure on grassland resources, which to balance development between economy and grassland resources.