Study on the coupling relationship between the value of grassland carbon sink and the well-being of herders in Inner Mongolia

Exploring the coupling relationship between grassland carbon sinks and herders’ well-being is of great significance for promoting the coordinated and sustainable development of grassland ecosystems and herders’ well-being and provides an important basis for the country to formulate differentiated grassland ecological compensation policies. Taking 33 animal husbandry banners and counties in Inner Mongolia as the research object, using the coupling coordination model, the statistical data from 2018 to 2022 were used for empirical research to analyze the coupling relationship between grassland carbon sink value and herdsmen’s well-being in Inner Mongolia. The research shows that: (1) The value of grassland carbon sinks in the study area increased by 39.89 %, of which the economic value of carbon sinks increased by 35.84 %, and the ecological value of carbon sinks increased by 48.86 %. The ecological environment has also been improved. (2) From 2018 to 2022, the well-being level of herdsmen in the study area showed an overall upward trend. Economic well-being increased by 82%, ecological well-being increased by 60%, and social well-being increased by 90%. (3) From 2018 to 2022, the coupling coordination degree between herdsmen’s well-being and grassland carbon sink value in the study area increased significantly, and the coupling degree was the highest in 2022. The coordinated development trend of temperate meadow steppe and typical steppe is gradually strengthened. The coordinated development of temperate steppe desert, desert steppe, and meadow has been effectively improved of temperate grassland desert, desertification grassland and meadow has been effectively improved.