China's scientists advance understanding of ecosystem, biodiversity changes on Qinghai-Xizang Plateau

LHASA - Chinese scientists have established a classification system for the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau ecosystem based on integrating remote sensing technology and ground surveys, contributing greatly to the analysis of changes in the ecosystem and biodiversity of the plateau.

They have completed a 1:500,000 grassland vegetation map, a 1:500,000 soil map of the plateau and a distribution map of the alpine tree line spanning 2,400 km across the Himalayas, according to data released by the second scientific expedition and research team to the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau on Sunday.

"These maps reveal the spatial pattern and dynamic changes of the ecosystem and improve our assessment of ecosystem quality and its service functions," said Ouyang Zhiyun, a researcher at the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The maps also support the formulation of biodiversity conservation strategies and the overall layout planning for the national parks on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.

The expedition team has also conducted extensive field investigations in vulnerable and critical areas of the plateau, leading to a series of new discoveries in biodiversity. They have published over 3,000 new species, including 205 new animal species, 388 new plant species and 2,593 new microbial species.

The local government in Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region has designated over 600,000 square km of its land as ecological conservation redlines, accounting for more than 50 percent of the region's total land area.

Xizang has 47 nature reserves of various levels and types, covering a total area of 412,200 square km. The area of ecologically functional land, including forests, grasslands, wetlands and water bodies, has increased to 1.08 million square km.

China initiated the second scientific expedition and research of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau in August 2017, intending to reveal the mechanism of environmental change and provide scientific support for the ecological security of the plateau.