Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Eco-environmental degradation in the northeastern margin of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau and comprehensive ecological protection planning

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Geology

Abstract

The regional hydrology and ecosystems of the northeastern margin of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau have changed over the past 40 years driven by intense human activity and regional climate changes. Annual mean air temperature has increased in the region. Streamflow from the northeastern margin of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau has decreased significantly. Overall, a number of Alpine step meadows and Alpine frigid meadows have seriously degraded. Degeneration of vegetation and grassland led to desertification and frequently induced dust storms. With the continuous increase in cultivated land area, grassland area in the region has dropped significantly since the 1960s. At present, degraded grassland occupies about 83% of total usable grassland area. As the number of livestock increased, range condition deteriorated and the carrying capacity was reduced. The forest area in the northeastern margin of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau has decreased by 20%, and the local ecosystem has become very fragile. Given the relatively stable weather conditions, the northeastern margin of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau can be characterized by its three major ecosystems: grassland ecosystem, forest ecosystem and wetland ecosystem, which are crucial in maintaining the ecological stability. Changes in these ecosystems could influence sustainable development in the region. To avoid further deterioration of the environment and ecosystems, it is important to establish and implement ecosystem protection planning. Some effective measures are essential in this respect, including technical and political considerations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anisimov OA, Nelson FE (1996) Permafrost distribution in the northern hemisphere under scenarios of climatic change. Glob Planet Change 14:59–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anisimov OA, Nelson FE (1997) Permafrost zonation and climate change: results from transient general circulation models. Clim Change 35:241–258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anisimov OA, Shiklomanov NI, Nelson FE (1997) Effects of global warming on permafrost and active-layer thickness: results from transient general circulation models. Glob Planet Change 61:61–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • An HY, Li DL (2003) Nearly 40 Years climate changing and its effects on the production of agriculture and husbandry over Gannan Plateau. Arid Meteorol 21(4):23–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey RG (1996) Ecosystem geography. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Betts RA, Cox PM, Lee SE, Woodward FI (1997) Contrasting physiological and structural vegetation feedbacks in climate change simulations. Nature 387:796–799

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Betts RA, Cox PM, Woodward FI (2000) Simulated responses of potential vegetation to doubled-CO2 climate change and feedbacks on near-surface temperature. Global Ecol Biogeogr 9:171–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bocco G, Mendoza M, Velazquez A (2001) Remote sensing and GIS-based regional geomorphological mapping: a tool for land use planning in developing countries. Geomorphology 39:211–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chase TN, Pielke RA, Kittel TGF, Nemani R, Running SW (2000) Simulated impacts of historical land cover changes on global climate. Clim Dyn 16:93–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen LH, Qu YG (1992) Rational development and utilization on water and soil resources in hexi region. Science Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen LQ, Liu CM, Hao FH, Liu JY, Dai L (2004) Change of the baseflow and it’s impacting factors in the source regions of Yellow River. J Glaciol Geocryol 28(2):141–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Q, Liang D (1998) Study on degraded rangelands in Darlag county of Qinghai Province. J Pratacult Sci 7(4):44–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng G, Wang G (1998) Eco-environment changes and causal analysis of headwater region in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. J Adv Earth Sci 13(Suppl):24–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng G, Li P, Zhang X, Guo D, Li S (1997) Influences of climatic changes on snow cover, glaciers and frozen soils in China. Gansu Cultural Publishing House, Lanzhou

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen X, Kang E (2001) A comparative analysis on sustainable utilization of water resources in arid and semi-arid regions of Gansu province (in Chinese with English abstract). J Glaciol Geocryol 23(1):74–79

    Google Scholar 

  • De Fries RS, Field CB, Fung I, Collatz GJ, Bounoua L (1999) Combining satellite data and biogeochemical models to estimate global effects of human-induced land cover change on carbon emissions and primary productivity. Glob Biogeochem Cyc 13:803–815

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FAO (1993a) 1992 production yearbook. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng JM, Wang T, Xie CW (2006) Eco-environment degradation in the source region of the yellow river, northeast Qianghai–Xizang plateau. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. doi: 10.1007/s10661-005-9169-2

  • Gannan Recorder Compilation Committee (1998) Gannan recorder. Lanzhou University Press, Lanzhou

    Google Scholar 

  • Gannan Statistics Yearbook Complilation Committee (2005) Gannan statistics yearbook. Gansu Science and Technology Press, Lanzhou

    Google Scholar 

  • Gannan 50 Years Complilation Committee (2005) Gannan 50 Years. Gansu Nationalities Publishing House

  • Gansu Forestry inventory, planning Institute (2006) The survey report of forestland area in Gansu Province. Gansu Science and Technology Press, Lanzhou

    Google Scholar 

  • Goulden M, Wofsy S, Harden J, Trumbore S, Crill P, Gower S, Fries T, Daube B, Fan S, Sutton D, Bazzaz A, Munger J (1998) Sensitivity of boreal forest carbon balance to soil thaw. Science 279:214–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson-Sellers A, Zhang H, Howe W (1996) Human and physical aspects of tropical deforestation. In: Giambelluca TW, Henderson-Sellers A (eds) Climate change: developing southern hemisphere perspectives. Wiley, Chichester, pp 259–292

    Google Scholar 

  • Houghtou JT, Ding Y, Griggs DJ, Noguer M, van der Linden PJ, Dai X, Maskell K, Johnson CA (2001) Climate change 2001: the scientific basis. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang GY, Han ML, Chen XP (2003) Research on national eco- functional regionalization in Maqu. Sci Geogr Geogr Inform 19(2):82–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Hydrology Bureau of Gansu Province (1972) Gansu hydrology. Gansu Science and Technology Press, Lanzhou

    Google Scholar 

  • Hydrology Bureau of Gansu Province (2005) Gansu hydrology. Gansu Science and Technology Press, Lanzhou

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones PD (1994) Hemispheric surface air temperature variations: a reanalysis and an update to 1993. J Climate 7:1794–1802

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jorgenson MT, Roth JE, Raynolds MK, Smith MD, Lentz W (1999) An ecological land survey for Fort Wainwright, Alaska. CRREL Report 9, U. S. Army, Alaska

  • Keeling CD, Whorf TP (2000) Atmospheric CO2 records from sites in the SIO air sampling network. In: Trends: a compendium of data on global change. Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, USA

  • Leemans R (1990) Global data sets collected and compiled by the Biosphere Project, Working Paper, International Institute for Applied Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria

  • Li CR (2000) Gannan grassland-ecology present status analysis and control countermeasures. Gannan Surv Dec Making 6:66–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Li WS, Feng L, Sun SL (2001) Influence of Zaling and Eling Lake on the annual discharge of the Huanghe River source area [J]. Acta Geogr Sin 56(1):75–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y (1996) Eco-environment and sustainable development in the source region of rivers in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. In: He Xiwu, Li Yufang (eds) Proceedings of the symposium on resources, environment and development of Quinghai Province. Meteorological Press, Beijing, pp 91–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews E (1983) Global vegetation and land-use—new high-resolution data-bases for climate studies. J Clim Appl Meteorol 22:474–487

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Navas A, Machin J (1997) Assessing erosion risks in the gypsiferous steppe of Litigio (NE Spain). An approach using GIS. J Arid Environ 37:433–441

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niu W (1997) Introduction to sustainable development. Science Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker DE, Jones PD, Folland CK, Bevan A (1994) Interdecadal changes of surface temperature since the late nineteenth century. J Geophys Res 99:4373–14399

    Google Scholar 

  • Peng M (1987) Study on the vegetation types and distribution in the area of Gyaring Lake and Ngoring Lake. Acta Biol Plateau Sin 7:71–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Pitman AJ, Zhao M (2000) The relative impact of observed change in land cover and carbon dioxide as simulated by a climate model. Geophys Res Lett 27:1267–1270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramankutty N, Foley JA (1998) Characterizing patterns of global land use: an analysis of global croplands data. Glob Biogeochem Cyc 12:667–685

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ren JZ, Zhu XY, Wang Q, Jia DJ, Xu CL, Wang X, Ge Y (1982) Dynamic study on the productive capability of transformation stages before available productive capability (P4) in alpine steppe grassland. J Ecol 2:1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Scholes RJ, Archer SR (1997) Tree-grass interactions in savannas. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 28:517–544

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shi J, Wang Q, Chen G, Wang G, Zhang Z (2001) Isotopic geochemistry of the groundwater system in arid and semiarid areas and its significance: a case study in Shiyang River basin, Gansu province, northwest China. Environ Geol 40(4/5):557–565

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor JA, Lloyd J (1992) Sources and sinks of atmospheric CO2. Austral J Bot 40:407–418

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tian G (1995) Remote sensing dynamic study of typical regions of the Yellow River Basin. Science Publishing House, Beijing, pp 1–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Umar A, Umar R, Ahmad MS (2001) Hydrogeological and hydrochemical framework of regional aquifer system in Kali-Ganga sub-basin, India. Environ Geol 40(4–5):602–611

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valle HF, Elissalde NO, Gagliardini DA, Milovich J (1998) Status of desertification in the Patagonian Region: assessing and mapping from satellite imagery. Arid Soil Res Rehabil 12:95–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Vasconcelos MJ Mussa P, Biai JC, Araujo A, Diniz MA (2002) Land cover changes in two protected areas of Guinea-Bissau (1956–1998). Appl Geogr 22:139–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walter H (1979) Vegetation of the earth, and ecological systems of the Geobiosphere. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang S (1991) Preliminary approach to frozen soil environment in East Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Qinghai Environ 3(4):173–177

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang G, Cheng G (1999) The ecological features and significance of hydrology within arid inland river basins of China. Environ Geol 37(3):218–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang G, Qian J, Cheng G, Lai Y (2001) Eco-environmental degradation and causal analysis in the source region of the Yellow River. Environ Geol 40:884–890

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang G, Ding Y, Shen Y, Lai Y (2003) Environmental degradation in the Hexi Corridor region of China over the past 50 years and comprehensive mitigation and rehabilitation strategies. Environ Geol 44:68–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Fu X (2004) Sustainable management of alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau: problems overlooked and suggestions for change. Ambio 33:153–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu SB (2000) Physical geography. Science press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Xi J (1997) Water resources of Yellow River. Huanghe Publication House, Zhengzhou

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang C (1997) Ecological consideration on the stopped flowing events of the Yellow River. In: The natural protection branch of the state environmental protection bureau (eds) Stopped flowing events of the Yellow River and catchment sustainable development. China Environment Science Press, Beijing, pp 1–9

  • Yang WJ (2004) Gannan eco-environmental present status and construction countermeasures. Gansu Soc Sci 4:186–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Ye B, Liu F, Bai S (1998) Studies on oasis advance and degeneration of the middle and lower parts of Shiyang River in recent ten years, Hexi, Gansu. In: Li JJ, Cheng GD (eds) Papers on the western resources and environment and sustainable development (in Chinese with English abstract). Lanzhou University Press, Lanzhou, pp 83–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang D, Liu F, Bing J (2000a) Eco-environmental effects of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau uplift during the Quaternary in China. Environ Geol 39(12):1352–1358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang D, Liu N, Tian J (2000b) Formation mechanism of ecogeo-environmental hazards in the agro-pastoral interlocking zone of northern China. Environ Geol 39(12):1385–1390

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang SF, Jia SF, Liu CM (2004) Study on the changes of water cycle and its impacts in the source regions of the Yellow River. Sci China (Ser E) 34(Suppl 1):117–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang ZQ, Sun CQ, Wang XD (2000c) Discussion of Gannan eco-protection, eco-construction and sustainable development. Sci Technol Gansu 8:30–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao M, Pitman AJ, Chase T (2001) The impact of land cover change on the atmospheric circulation. Clim Dyn 17:467–477

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Financial support for this study was provided by The National Basic Research Program of China (2006 CB 400501) and The State Key Laboratory of Arid Agroecology, Lanzhou University. The authors wish to extend their sincere appreciations to Wang Jianhong, Wei Jingping, et al., of Gansu Forestry Inventory and Planning Institute for their field assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, People’s Republic of China

    Hui Wang, Xiaolei Zhou, Hua Fu, Feng Zhang & Jizhou Ren

  2. Forest Inventory and Planning Institute of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, 730020, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaolei Zhou & Changgui Wan

  3. Department Natural Resources Management, Texas Technical University, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA

    Changgui Wan

  4. College of Forestry, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou City, 730070, People’s Republic of China

    Hui Wang

  5. Duanjiatan Road 1234, Lanzhou, 730020, Gansu province, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaolei Zhou

Authors
  1. Hui Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiaolei Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Changgui Wan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hua Fu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Feng Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jizhou Ren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiaolei Zhou.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, H., Zhou, X., Wan, C. et al. Eco-environmental degradation in the northeastern margin of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau and comprehensive ecological protection planning. Environ Geol 55, 1135–1147 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-1061-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-1061-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation