A long-term high-resolution dataset of grasslands grazing intensity in China

Utilized the census livestock data and a satellite-based vegetation index, we developed the first Long-term High-resolution Grazing Intensity (LHGI) dataset of grassland in seven pastoral provinces in western China from 1980–2022. And now updated to 2024, with improved data coverage in parts of western Sichuan after 2000.The file format of the dataset is GeoTIFF with the spatial reference of WGS84 (EPSG: 4326). Each GeoTIFF file represents annual grazing intensity (unit: SU ha^-1).Furthermore, we disaggregated the LHGI into different livestock species based on the percentage of cattle, goats, sheep, and large livestock at the county level in head/ha.This dataset serves as a vital resource for estimating grassland carbon cycling and livestock system CH₄ emissions as well as contributes to grassland management.For any issues regarding data usage, please contact: [e-mail]

本研究利用普查畜禽数据与卫星遥感植被指数，构建了首套中国西部7个牧业省份1980—2022年的草地长期高分辨率放牧强度（Long-term High-resolution Grazing Intensity, LHGI）数据集，目前已更新至2024年，且优化了2000年后四川西部部分区域的数据覆盖范围。本数据集采用GeoTIFF格式，空间参考为WGS84（EPSG: 4326）。单个GeoTIFF文件对应年度放牧强度，单位为SU ha⁻¹。此外，本数据集基于县级尺度下牛、山羊、绵羊及大型家畜的头数占比，将LHGI拆解为不同畜禽物种的放牧强度数据，单位为头/公顷。本数据集可用于草地碳循环与畜禽系统甲烷（CH₄）排放估算，同时可为草地管理提供重要支撑。若存在数据使用相关问题，请联系：[e-mail]