Mountain Geoecology and Sustainable Development of the Tibetan Plateau

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

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2. Introduction

   • Zheng Du, Zhang Qingsong

   Pages 1-17

3. Uplift and Environmental Changes of the Tibetan Plateau

   • Zhang Qingsong

   Pages 19-45

4. Three Dimensional Differentiation of Natural Zonation

   • Zheng Du

   Pages 47-69

5. The Population Changes and Urban Development

   • Fu Xiaofeng

   Pages 71-88

6. Climate: Past, Present, and Future

   • Lin Zhenyao, Zhang Xueqin, Yin Zhiyong

   Pages 89-112

7. Permafrost: Status, Variation and Impacts

   • Zhao Lin, Chen Guichen, Cheng Guodong, Li Shuxun

   Pages 113-137

8. Biodiversity: Biota and Biocoenose

   • Wang Jinting

   Pages 139-157

9. Human Health Aspect in Geoecology

   • Tan Jian’An, Zhu Wenyu, Li Ribang, Wang Wuyi

   Pages 159-180

10. Land-Use and Agricultural Development

    • Wu Shaohong, Yang Qinye

    Pages 181-202

11. Natural Hazards and Environmental Issues

    • Zhu Liping, Li Bingyuan

    Pages 203-222

12. Nature Conservation

    • Li Bosheng

    Pages 223-242

13. Regional Social-Economic Sustainable Development

    • Liu Yi

    Pages 243-264

14. Geo-Ecology of Mts. Namjagbarwa Region

    • Peng Buzhuo, Bao Haosheng, Pu Lijie

    Pages 265-282

15. Dry Valleys in Hengduan Mts Region

    • Yang Qinye

    Pages 283-302

16. High-Cold Scrubs and Meadow Zone

    • Wang Xiuhong

    Pages 303-325

17. Hinterland of Qiangtang Plateau

    • Li Bingyuan, Zhu Liping

    Pages 327-348

18. Kunlun Mountains Region

    • Zhang Baiping

    Pages 349-372

19. Back Matter

    Pages 373-396

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Intense uplift of the Tibetan Plateau in Late Cenozoic Era is one of the most important events in geological history of the Earth. The plateau offers an ideal region for studying of lithospheric formation and evolution, probing into the mechanism of crustal movement, and understanding of changes in environments and geo-ecosystems in Asia. Intense uplift ofthe plateau resulted in drastic changes of natural environment and apparent regional differentiation on the plateau proper and neighboring regions. The plateau therefore becomes a sensitive area of climate change in Asian monsoon region, which is closely related to the global change. As a special physical unit, its ecosystems occupy a prominent position in the world. Due to its extremely high elevation and great extent, natural types and characteristics of physical landscapes on the plateau are quite different from those in lowlands at comparable latitudes, and environments are also different from those in high­ latitudinal zones. Consequently, the Tibetan Plateau has been classified as one of three giant physical regions in China and considered as a unique unit on Earth. Scientific surveys and expeditions to the Tibetan Plateau on large scale began from 1950's. Amongst them, a number of comprehensive scientific expeditions to the Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region, Hengduan Mts. areas, Karakorum and Kunlun Mts. regions, as well as the Hoh Xii Mts. areas, have been successively carried out by the Integrated Scientific Expedition to Tibetan Plateau, sponsored by Chinese Academy of Sciences since 1973.

• Evolution
• biocoenosis
• biodiversity
• development
• ecology
• ecosystem
• environment

• Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR. China

  Du Zheng, Qingsong Zhang, Shaohong Wu

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