Abstract: In recent years, the grassland ecological degradation in pastoral areas has seriously threatened the national ecological security of China. This paper summarizes the evolution process of grassland ecologi-cal protection, and points out that it is essential to study on balance among water, land, forage and live-stock. Based on the research process and progress of water-land-forage-livestock balance in pastoral areas, this paper summarizes and analyzes the achievements and shortcomings of forage -livestock balance re-search, water-forage-livestock balance research and water-land-forage-livestock balance research. Finally, the technical framework of the balance among water, land, forage and livestock are put forward, and expec-tations on the future are proposed. The paper can provide references for promoting sustainable use of water and land resources and maintain sustainable development of society and economy in pastoral areas.

Keywords: water-land-forage-livestock balance; technical framework; balance regulation; pastoral areas

(Journal of China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Vol. 16, No. 5, 2018)