The Modern Value of Local Knowledge in Grassland Pastoral Areas from the Perspective of Ecological Legal Governance: A Case Study of Kazakh Pastoralists in China

Under the guidance of Xi Jinping's ecological civilization ideology and the Party's ethnic work policy in the new era, ecological protection in grassland pastoral areas has become an important support for achieving rural revitalization and common prosperity in ethnic regions. The ecological knowledge system formed by nomadic peoples in long-term production practice not only deeply reflects the development concept of "green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver", but also highly aligns with the adaptive principles advocated by modern ecological governance. This article takes into full consideration the reality of unified national legal system and diverse legal culture. By systematically reviewing literature and combining field investigations, with the interaction between local knowledge and national laws as the core thread, it explores the rich ecological wisdom accumulated by ethnic minority herdsmen in long-term production and life practices, analyzes the important value of local knowledge in China's modern ecological legal environment, and proposes ways to promote the transformation of local knowledge into modern governance resources, such as establishing a dynamic logical framework for the operation of modern environmental law, strengthening the flexible space for the growth and implementation of modern environmental law, and constructing a pattern of legal pluralism co governance. The research enriches the local resource pool of ecological governance in China, providing theoretical support and practical paradigms for building an ecological legal system with Chinese characteristics, and has important implications for achieving ecological protection and coordinated economic and social development in grassland pastoral areas.