In China, the Hani ethnic groups are one of the unique ethnic minorities inhabited in Yuunan Province, mainly scattered in the wide areas in between the south of the Honghe River and the east of the Lancang River. Honghe Hani and Yi Nationality Autonomous Prefecture is the main Hani-inhabited area, mainly concerned a few counties like Honghe, Yuanyang, Luchun and Jinping. However the mountainous area of Benna River area in the territory of the Honghe Prefecture is really the main place where the Hani ethnic groups are inhabited.

This paper relates the experience of simultaneously implementing a community-based grassland recovery project and developing eco-cultural tourism nearby a high alpine nature reserve in Southwestern China.It illustrates a development model where ecosystem restoration and preservation of traditional knowledge are merged in a tourism development project intended to address already existing ecological degradation, deterioration and loss of cultural heritage and traditional knowledge, as well as to alleviate poverty.

With the development of economic globalization and the intensification of global environmental change, it is clear that China's resources and environment have a great influence on global sustainable development, international politics and the global economic structure.Especially over the last thirty years, China's rapid development has largely changed global political and economic patterns.China's dependency on the worl deconomy and global resources is also growing.However, China's rapid economic growth now faces increasingly serious international environmental challenges.

With the health of the earth’s ecosystems increasingly under threat, due to a growing population, high rates of deforestation and transformation into agricultural and pasturelands, the role of ecosystem management has become more important than ever.

This commentary arises from a seminar course on China’s environment taught at Yale University. Emerged out of the seminar discussion are five themes, including: a) the balancing act of local interest and regional coordination in the fight against pollution dispersion, b) the creation of special environmental zones for experimenting bold, forward-looking ideas, c) new approaches to environmental education and capacity building, d) the need for international collaboration, and f) the unique situation of checks and balances in China’s environmental decision-making. This paper is not intended to provide an in-depth analysis of these topics; rather its goal is to emphasize the need for infusion of western environmental thinking with China’s reality.