Monasteries and Pheasants in Western Sichuan

The traditional beliefs and way of life of Tibetan Buddhists has conserved wildlife for generations by preventing persecution and protecting habitats. In Daocheng County, sacred groves are found near some monasteries and villages which provide secure habitats for several pheasant species, as well as many other birds and mammals. White eared-pheasants, blood pheasants and Tibetan partridge are common sights around Daocheng’s monasteries, and are frequently fed by the Buddhists.

Studies conducted at Daocheng indicate that pheasants can be resilient to traditional levels of habitat alteration in the absence of hunting. The monks use areas in the forest surrounding the sacred groves for firewood, yet the pheasants continue to thrive in the area. Some local families burn yak droppings, shrubs and turf in their fires, thus conserving the forests even more.

The concern for the future comes from an increasing human pressure to develop tourism in these previously remote areas. This suggests that the traditional monastery forests and their sacred groves will become crucial for the species which inhabit them.