Grasslands are the foundation for the survival and development of herdsmen and also an important ecological defense.

Based on her sound understanding of the grasslands, Guo Yanling, a deputy to the National People’s Congress (NPC) from North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region and a researcher on agricultural technology promotion, has been working hard to improve the allowance and incentive policies on protecting local grassland ecology.

Guo, an expert on grassland restoration, conducted onsite research to collect opinions from farmers and herdsmen in three animal husbandry banners in Ulanqab, key areas that are implementing the policies.

Guo submitted a suggestion that conveyed the feedbacks of local farmers and herdsmen on how to best improve the grassland incentive and compensation policies to the second session of the 13th NPC. The suggestion included reasonably adjusting grassland ownership, accurately calculating the grassland carrying capacity, implementing seasonal grazing in full scale, maintaining pasture-livestock balance and supporting the development of grassland tourism.

In responding to Guo’s suggestion, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration accelerated the introduction of guidance on improving the grassland contract management system.

The administration also organized selections of high-quality grassland tourism routes and the best grassland tourist attractions in provincial-level regions with rich grassland tourism resources, such as Inner Mongolia, and has worked to boost a grassland tourism industry featuring magnificent scenery and unique ethnic folk culture to increase the income of farmers and herdsmen and push forward the protection and sustainable development of grasslands.

The Ministry of Finance set up a special working team to study Guo’s suggestion and included it in the ministry’s report on the implementation of the central and local budgets in 2018 and the draft of central and local budgets in 2019.

 "Seeing suggestions from grassroots level incorporated into the report makes me better understand the role of an NPC deputy", Guo said, adding that more efforts will be made to promote the implementation of the allowance and incentive policies on grassland ecological protection.