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The cultural tradition of Tibetan values let nature takes its course and adapt to the environment. The ethics of Tibetan Buddhism still demands not to kill livestock. These kinds of ideas and traditions, have demonstrated a passive aspect in controlling the meadow rodents, but also have positive aspects in safeguarding biological diversity and ecological balance. To realize the sustainable economic development of Tibet, it is necessary to adjust the cultural ideas in the national tradition, and to retain the useful and discard the useless ideas, and to eliminate the weak livestock and strengthen the prevention and treatment of the rodents. Therefore, it is a demanding task to find a new way suitable for Tibetan’s behavior and conducive to the ecological balance of meadows. For example, through breeding the natural enemy of mice to attain the goal of controlling the rodents.

Strengthening management is the basic work for ensuring the harmonious relationship between the economic construction and ecological environment. One of the important aspects is to establish the nature reserves. The work to set up nature reserves in Tibet had already begun at the early 20th century with the purpose to restrict the blind development of resources and strengthen the protection of resources and the control of the deteriorating ecology. In September 1985, the people’s government of Tibet Autonomy Region determined to set up 6 nature reserves at Medog, Zayu, Bome Gangshiang, Nyingchi Bargyi, Zam Gully in Nylam, Gyilungjam Village; in November 1988, the Qomolangma Nature Reserve at the state level was set up and in July of 1993 the government determined to set up Mangkang Yangjain Snub-nosed Monkey Nature Reserve, Nyingchi Dongquog Naemorhedus Cranbrooki Nature Reserve, Chang TangChangtang Nature Reserve, Changmaoling Cervus Elaphus Nature Reserve in Rewoqe, Xainzha Black-necked Crane Breeding Nature Reserve, Lhungzhub Pengbo Black-necked Crane Overwinter Nature Reserve. Thus the area of nature reserves that have already been built and under planning has accounted for l/4 0f all the areas of Tibet. The construction of the nature reserves have played a vital role in safeguarding the unique ecosystem, saving the biological species on the verge of extinction, strengthening the protection of the national rare animals and plants, rational utilization of various kinds of natural resources and also offered the environmental guarantee for sustainable economic development of Tibet.

International cooperation is also needed in maintaining the good ecological environment for the economic development of Tibet. We not only require the international community to form the actions in concert and harmony for environmental protection and the more developed countries and regions with better environments to undertake corresponding responsibilities and obligations, but also require more extensive cooperating and cooperation /n the pattern of personal consumption. Such as restricting the consumption of Tibetan cashmeres and cultivating the consumption morals beneficial for the ecological environment. In fact, the luxurious consumption of Tibetan cashmeres in the European market has played a vital role in instigating the desperate hunting of Tibetan antelope. It is obvious that even the regional sustainable development demands extensive cooperation of human kind.

In the early days of the founding of the People’s Republic of Chinain 1949, the Central Government promulgated policies for national regional autonomy, which found their way into the Common Program adopted at the 1949 CPPCC National Committee and also the 1954 PRC Constitution. As one of the regions dominated by ethnic minorities,Tibetfollowed the system.

It is stipulated in the 17-Article Agreement for the peaceful liberation ofTibet, signed on May 23, 1951, thatTibetenjoys the right to exercise national regional autonomy under the centralized leadership of the Central People’s Government. In April 1956, the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region was set up, with the 14th Dalai Lama serving as the director, the l0th Panchen Erdeni the first deputy director and PLA General Zhang Guohuathe second deputy director. Ngapoi Ngawang Jigmeiwas its secretary general.

In March 1959, those in the upper ruling class inTibetstaged an armed rebellion, and the office building of the Preparatory Committee, which did a lot for the Tibetans, was attacked by the rebels. This forced the State Council to disband the former government ofTibetknown as Gaxag, and the Preparatory Committee took over the ruling power; when the 14th Dalai Lama was not holding the post, the l0th PanchenErdeni served as the director.

In September 1965, the Tibet Autonomous Region was founded. A total of 301 delegates attended the conference, including 242 who are of the Tibetan, Hui, Moinba and Lhoba ethnic groups. They included emancipated serfs and slaves, patriots on the upper religious and political classes. Through democratic election, Ngapoi Ngawang Jigmei was elected chairman of the People’s Congress of the Tibet Autonomous Region; and Zhou Renshan, Pagbalha Geleg Namgyia, Guo Xilan, Xirab Toinzhu, Namdain Gonggar Wangqug, Cuike Toinzhub Cering, and Sengqen LobsangGyaincain were elected vice-chairmen.

The key to the system of national regional autonomy. Lies in the fact that people in the region are masters of their own fate, enjoying various rights including through to vote and the right to stand for vote. From 1979t0 1999, six democratic elections were held. During the democratic election held in 1993, 1,311,085 people, or 57 percent of the Tibetan population, were registered voters.  1,200,914 0fthem, or 91.6 percent, voted. They elected 6,411 deputies to the county and township people’s congresses, 450 deputies to the People’s Congress of the Tibet Autonomous Region and 19 deputies to the PRC National People’s Congress.

Through the democratic elections, a number of Tibetans mounted the political stage. They include six elected chairman of the government of the Tibet Autonomous Region and five chairmen of the People’s Congress of the Tibet Autonomous Region. They are Ngapoi Ngawang Jigmei: Elected chairman of the  People’s Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region in September 1965, and re-elected chairman of the regional government for the period April 1981-February 1983; Tianbao elected for the period August 1979  April 1981; Dorje Cedain elected as secretary of the  CPC Tibet regional committee and chairman of the regional government for the period 1983-85; Dorje  Cerang elected acting chairman and later chairman of  the Tibet regional government for the period November 1985-May 1990; Gyaincain Norbu elected chairman.   Man of theTibetregional government for three terms May 1990-March 1993, March 1993-1996, and 1996-1999; and Leqoi was elected chairman of theTibetregional government in 1999.

I was inTibetin 1993, when the People’s Congress of the Tibet Autonomous Region met inLhasa. According to statistics I have collected, people’s congresses in various areas in the region elected l, 264 town and township heads, 99.6 percent of them being Tibetan; 71 chairmen of the people’s congresses of various areas, 97.18 percent of them being Tibetan; 72 county magistrates, 98.6 percent being Tibetan; and 14 vice-chairmen of the People’s Congress of the Tibet Autonomous Region, 71.43 percent of them being Tibetan. Of the leaders at the regional government level, some came from poor families and some others from families of former serf owners. They includeGyipu Pun cog Cedain who was manorial lord of the Gyipu Manor, and Lhaba Puncog who was a servant of that manor.