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

Tibet’s numerous glaciers, lakes, <strong>and</strong> wetl<strong>and</strong>s spawn many of the important
rivers in Asia, making it the source region of some of the world’s largest rivers.
Asia’s famous Ganges, Indus, Brahmaputra (Yarlung), Mekong (Lancang),
Salween (Nu) <strong>and</strong> Yangtze Rivers are all derived from <strong>and</strong> flow through Tibet
(Figure 1). Tibet plays an important role in water conservation for many
important rivers in Asia <strong>and</strong> in regulating river hydrology. Glaciers, lakes, <strong>and</strong>
rivers contain vast deposits of water, making Tibet the “water tower of Asia”.
Tibet’s water resources reach a total of 448.2 billion cubic meters, ranking
it first amongst all provinces of China (including autonomous regions). The
abundant water resources here play a critical part in ensuring China’s water security.
Tibet, theoretically, contains 201 million kilowatts of hydraulic power,
accounting for 29 % of the nation’s power, of which 140 million kilowatts are
technologically exploitable, accounting for 24 %, ranking it first amongst all
provinces (<strong>and</strong> autonomous regions). At present, most of the rivers in China
have seen in-depth development <strong>and</strong> utilization of their water, whereas Tibet’s
water resources have yet to be developed. Tibet will be China’s future energy
base by providing continuous primary energy to the West-East Electricity
Transmission Project.
2.4 The Tibetan Plateau is an important region for the world’s gene bank
<strong>and</strong> biodiversity conservation
Tibet has all types of ecosystems, except marine ecosystems, in its vast territory.
The forest, rangel<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> wetl<strong>and</strong> ecosystems in Tibet are characterized by
their diversity <strong>and</strong> their uniqueness within China, <strong>and</strong> the world. It has a tropical
rain forest with the highest northern latitude in the world, a monsoon forest
ecosystem <strong>and</strong> many typical Chinese-Himalayan Flora tree species. Of all the
pastoral ecosystems, Tibet has a unique Tibetan alpine arid desert, alpine semiarid
steppe <strong>and</strong> alpine sub-humid meadow.
Tibet, as a unique environmental unit, gives birth to singular biological communities
<strong>and</strong> a number of rare endemic wildlife species. Tibet is the world‘s
most important genetic centres for mountain species, <strong>and</strong> is home to 25 biodiversity
hot spots. Tibet has 6,530 kinds of vascular plants, of which 2,700 are
endemic to China <strong>and</strong> 1,200 are endemic to Tibet. As national key protected
wild plants there are 39 species listed in Tibet. It has more than 300 kinds
of Tibetan medicinal herbs, <strong>and</strong> 800 species of wild vertebrates (subspecies),
of which nearly 200 species are unique to Tibet. As national key protected
wild animals, 125 species are listed in Tibet, accounting for over one third
of the national total. In addition, Tibet has 4,000 kinds of insects, including
1,100 endemic species. Tibet is one of the world’s most biologically diverse
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