Grassland management in the Qilian Mountains aims to balance livestock production and water retention services. By analyzing data, researchers found that the value of these services decreases from east to west. Synergy between livestock production and water retention is strongest in certain areas, while trade-offs are more common in others. A sustainable scenario involves preserving water retention services while sacrificing some livestock production. This led to a grazing plan dividing the area into maintenance grazing, rotational grazing, and grazing exclusion zones. The study shows that understanding ecosystem service relationships can guide effective grassland management strategies.