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This book offers an institutional analysis of the rapidly changing landscape of grassland management in China, focusing on the last three decades marked by significant degradation and institutional shifts in local herding communities. It identifies critical nature-related transactions within social-ecological systems, where actors face decisions that can yield joint benefits or costs, fostering both physical and social interdependence. The study examines how institutions shape these transactions by influencing their properties and the characteristics of the actors involved, creating feedback loops through institutional innovation that impact future transactions. Findings indicate that nomadic and agro-pastoral communities have encountered increasing uncertainty from both physical and social dimensions, leading to potential declines in populations, reduced livestock rearing, and heightened inequality. This current institutional framework overlooks the adaptability of pastoralists to the complex dynamics of grassland use. By synthesizing case study findings, the analysis explores the interplay between transactions, actors, and institutions within a complex social-ecological system, aiming to enhance scientific understanding of grassland management—an urgent issue in contemporary China.

Set against the backdrop of war and upheaval, the narrative follows the Chia family as they navigate the challenges of traditional life disrupted by the Japanese invasion and subsequent civil war. With the family patriarch kidnapped, Tu Hua must shoulder the family's burdens while they flee to safety. After years of turmoil, she reunites with her daughters in Taiwan before returning to the mainland. The story is inspired by the author's own family experiences during these tumultuous historical events, reflecting resilience and the impact of war on familial bonds.