Pastoralism and Rangeland Management on the Tibetan Plateau in ...

2.2 Building the Eco-Shelter of the Tibetan
Plateau
Zhang Yong Ze 7
Abstract
This chapter illustrates the strategic position of Tibet as an important ecological
shelter for the country <strong>and</strong> region from four aspects: First, the Tibetan plateau
has a profound impact on the geographical patterns, <strong>and</strong> second, the stability of
the climate system in China <strong>and</strong> East Asia, <strong>and</strong> third, it is an important source
of the rivers of Asia, a stronghold of water security for China, <strong>and</strong> fourth, an
important global gene pool <strong>and</strong> biodiversity conservation hotspot. The author
summarizes the progress <strong>and</strong> effectiveness of ecological shelter construction in
the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China (TAR) in three points: (i) the implementation
of eco-conservation projects, (ii) the improvement of environmental
quality <strong>and</strong> (iii) the ecological, economic <strong>and</strong> social benefits of the ecological
shelter development projects. The author puts forward four key tasks for building
a comprehensive ecological shelter in TAR: (i) to promote a balanced
development model, (ii) to carefully implement well-planned projects; (iii) to
establish a Payment of Ecosystem Services (PES) regime, <strong>and</strong> (iv) to effectively
address environmental issues related to people’s livelihoods.
1 Introduction
Tibet constitutes the main body of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It has a unique,
natural environment <strong>and</strong> is very rich in wildlife, water, mineral <strong>and</strong> tourism
resources. With a blue sky, crystal-clear rivers <strong>and</strong> vast areas of rangel<strong>and</strong>s,
its ecosystems are of utmost importance. The central government identifies
Tibet as an important ecological shelter for the country <strong>and</strong> therefore approved
the implementation of the “Master Plan on Constructing <strong>and</strong> Protecting
Tibet’s Ecological Shelter (2008–2030)” (MPCPTES). MPCPTES enshrines
the protection <strong>and</strong> construction of Tibet’s ecological shelter as a key national
eco-conservation project that will invest 15.5 billion Yuan in five separate fiveyear-plans
in three major categories. It supports ten environmental protection
<strong>and</strong> construction projects, with the purpose of establishing a basic ecological
7 Director General <strong>and</strong> Research Fellow of the Tibet Autonomous Region Environmental
Protection Department
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