Key practical points:
• Grasslands are owned by the state or collectives and allotted to households or pastoral units through long-term use contracts.
• Systems set carrying capacity to prevent overgrazing, and include rotational grazing and seasonal bans.
• Converting grassland to other uses (construction, mining, farming) requires official approval and compensation.
• The state promotes forage cultivation and restoration of degraded grassland through rehabilitation projects.
• Ploughing grassland, gathering protected wild plants, or unlicensed mining on it is prohibited.
• Violations bring fines, removal of illegal structures, and restoration of vegetation.
Grassland Law · Yalla China
中华人民共和国草原法 / Grassland Law of the People's Republic of China
Enacted: 1985-06-18 ✅ Effective: 2021-04-29
📝 Overview
A law governing the protection, management, and rational use of grasslands and defining grazing and ownership rights. It aims to curb grassland degradation and desertification and protect the pastoral environment.
This is general information only, not legal advice. For your specific case, consult a licensed lawyer.
📜 The law text / key provisions
💬 Practical reading
💬 This is a general reading/opinion for orientation — not the official legal text nor legal advice.
Any project in pastoral areas (mining, energy, tourism) must check the grassland status and conversion procedures. Ignoring carrying-capacity limits causes disputes with local communities. This is general orientation, not legal advice.
📎 Official source
npc.gov.cn
🕒 Updated: 16 March 2026