The Question(s) of Tibet - World Affairs Council

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
surpassed the value of the industry and mining sector in 2004. Most county agencies have
established a permit system and require collectors to obtain licenses. The ever‐growing
economic importance of these fungi raises concerns regarding sustainability of current harvest
levels. There are scientific studies regarding matsutake that conclude that when using
appropriate harvesting techniques sustainability should be guaranteed.
Economic Development and its Impact on the Environment of Tibet
GLOBALIZATION TO TIBET
http://www.tibetjustice.org/reports/enviro/globalization.pdf
This paper examines the impact globalization has had on Tibet, includes the environmental
ramifications in Tibet and throughout the Himalayas.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE LONG TERM VIABILITY OF TIBET’S ECONOMY (1997)
http://www.tibetjustice.org/reports/enviro/apec_paper.html
Mining and logging have been particularly destructive to the Tibetan environment. Few
safeguards have been imposed on strip mining operations with the result that lakes, rivers,
groundwater and soil have been contaminated. Logging has caused soil erosion that threatens
major river systems, threatens the long‐term arability of the land, and may even be
contributing to climate change….
LHASA MAPS
http://www.asianart.com/lhasa_restoration/map.html
The Lhasa Archive Project has recently produced a multi part map of the historic changes which
have occurred in Lhasa from 1948 to the present day. The images included show small versions
of the first series of maps, where the total urban area of the Lhasa valley is shown in blue in
1948, 1980 and 1998. This clearly shows the extraordinary growth which has taken place over
the past 50 years.
TIBET’S ENVIRONMENT WELL PRESERVED THROUGH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(3/31/09)
http://www.china‐embassy.org/eng/gyzg/t555211.htm
While other sources would disagree strongly with the Chinese government’s assessment of the
environment in the Tibet region, this source provides an interesting perspective from research
provided by the Chinese government. Tibet's environment has been well preserved in its
economic development and modernization, said a report published Monday by the Beijingbased
China Tibetology Research Center. "In China, Tibet is the place nearest to the sky and
furthest away from pollution," read the Report on the Economic and Social Development of
Tibet. In 2007, more than 98 percent of the days in Lhasa registered with "excellent" or "good"
air quality, with only seven days registered as "slightly polluted."
The human afforested area in the region jumped from 868 hectares in 1990 hectares to 19,069
in 2007, including 13,132 hectares of shelter forests which plays an important role in ecological
protection, the report said. In addition, the biodiversity in Tibet was well protected, it said.
"Since the peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1951, not one species in Tibet has been found to have
suffered extinction." Tibet also boasted 20 nature reserves, including nine at the national level
and 11 at the regional level, with a total area of 41.26 million hectares, or 34.8 percent of the
land area of Tibet.
World Affairs Council Teacher Resource Packet – The Question(s) of Tibet February 28, 2011
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