The Central Government announced on October 12 financial assistance for herders in west China, to reward their efforts in conserving grasslands and to compensate them for losses.

From next year, the policy will be applied in eight provincial-level regions including Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, Ningxia and Yunnan, said a circular issued after a State Council executive meeting.

The government will give 90 yuan ($13.4) per hectare of grassland annually to herders living in the regions where the grasslands are severely damaged and herding has been banned, the document said.

Outside of these herding-banned regions, residents will receive 22.5 yuan ($3.4) per hectare every year if they keep a herd of sustainable size, the document said.

The government will also provide 150 yuan ($22.4) per hectare for farmers to grow better quality grass.