Final Report - Asian Development Bank

TA 4721-PRC: Preparing the Shaanxi-Qinling Mountains Integrated Ecosystem Management Project
Final Report Appendix 5
elevations. Glaciation reached areas near the Qinling and at such sites the morrain deposits of gravel
and rock are evident.
Many birch forests are single-species stands, but mixed forests are formed with Bashan fir (Abies
fargesii) and Taibaishan larch (Larix chinensis). There are 40 shrub species in the forest, which are
Rhododendron clementinae subsp. aureodorsale, Rhododendron concinnum, Rhododendron
purdomii, Sinarundinaria nitida, Sorbus koehneana, Acanthopanax giraldii, Ribes glaciale, Rosa
omeiensis, Lonicera szeshuanica and others.
There are more than 40 herbaceous plants which are mostly species of Ranunculaceae, Compositae
and Cyperaceae. The dominant species have Carex capiliiformis var. major, Phlomis umbrosa var.
stenocalyx, Saussurea oligantha var. parvifolia, Ajuga ciliate, Carex capiliiformis, Phlomis megalantha,
Carex scabrirostris, Carex filamentosa, Cardamine macrophylla and others. Because mean
temperatures are cool, the liane in the formation has about 10 species, which are mostly species of
Ranunculaceae and Actinidiaceae. The evergreen lianes include Clematoclethra actinidioides,
Clematis obscura, Clematis macropetala, and Rubus pileatus and others. Because of the wet
environment in the forest, lichens develop well beneath the forest, generally covering 20-80% and the
thickness is 2-15 cm.
2.5 Red birch (Betula albo-sinensis) forest zone
Qinling Mountain is the main distribution zone of red birch. The red birch zone is mainly at elevations
of 2,200-2,700 m on the north slope and 1,900-2,600 m on the south slope. On the south slope, the
upper elevation of the red birch zone meets the cowhide birch forest zone. The lower elevation meets
the Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata forest zone below. On the north slope, the forest zone meets the
Quercus liaotungensis forest zone below. Red birch forest is the transition vegetation type between
temperate deciduous broadleaf forest zone and cold-temperate coniferous forest zone. Red birch
forest is relatively stable and was originally a main component of the natural forest. The red birch
forest is widespread in the Qinling.
The forests are pure forest or mixed forest with red birch as the dominant species. Canopy closure
reaches 0.6-0.8. The canopy average height is about 16 m, average DBH (diameter at breast height)
is 40 cm and canopy age is about 60-110 years. Red birches develop well. Companion species of
the canopy layer number more than 20, including Pinus armandii, Abies fargesii, Tsuga chinensis,
Cowhide birch (Betula albo-sinensis var. septentrionalis), Quercus liaotungensis, Populus davidiana,
Tilia laetevirens, Acer giraldii, Aver robustum, Sorbus tapashana, Sorbus discolor, Carpinus
turczaninowii and others.
The dominant species is Sinarundinaria nitida. The familiar species include about 40 which are Rosa
omeiensis, Philadelphus incanus, Viburnum betulifolium, Spiraea japonica var. acuminate, Berberis
dielsiana and others. The lianes develop well in birch forest, and familiar species include about 10
which are Actinidia chinensis, Clematoclethra actinidioides, Clematis Montana, Schisandra
sphenanthera.
The herbaceous layer is affected by the canopy and shrub layers. The sum coverage of the
herbaceous layer is 30-60%. The familiar species are more than 50 including Carex capiliiformis,
Carex schneideri, Thalictrum brevisericeum, Phlomis megalantha, Chamaenerion angustifolium,
Cardamine macrophylla, Oxylis griffithii, Impatiens notolopha and others.
2.6 Pine and red birch forest zone
2.6.1 Pine and deciduous broadleaf forest sub-zone (1,500-2,200 m)
The distribution area of this sub-zone is widest and the breadth is greatest in the Qinling. The form
members are complex. The physiognomies are characteristic of middle elevations with erosion in
modern times. The relatively high difference is 500-700 m in this forest sub-zone. The soil is hill palm
soil. There are more than 40 canopy species, various shrubs and herbs in the forest. Again there is
distribution of climbing plants. The arbor species forming forest include Pinus armandii, Pinus
tabulaeformis, Tsuga chinensis, Populus davidiana, Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata, Betula
luminifera, Betula platyphylla, Quercus dentate, Populus cathayana. Again there are Quercus aliena,
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