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

2.3 The Impact of Rangel<strong>and</strong> Ecological Shelter
on Xinjiang’s Ecosystem
Zhang Jianli 8 , Sun Qiang 8 , Tao Meng 8 , Ji Guangnan 9
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to underst<strong>and</strong> the impact of rangel<strong>and</strong> ecological
shelter on the overall ecological environment in Xinjiang. This is done by surveying,
monitoring <strong>and</strong> evaluating the main functions of the natural rangel<strong>and</strong>
ecosystems, in order to estimate the values of the different service functions
in Xinjiang. It will also look at the service value, <strong>and</strong> total value, of different
types of natural rangel<strong>and</strong> ecosystems. The highest-value service provided by
the rangel<strong>and</strong> ecosystem is the provision of meat for human consumption,
worth 1.5 billion US dollars, accounting for 21.26 % of the total service value.
Hence, the main function of the rangel<strong>and</strong> ecosystem is the potential ecological
services. The rangel<strong>and</strong> ecosystems in Xinjiang include mountain ecosystems
<strong>and</strong> plain desert <strong>and</strong> oasis ecosystems, <strong>and</strong> are an essential part of the animal
husb<strong>and</strong>ry that is based on rangel<strong>and</strong> as its sole resource. These systems have
the most extensive <strong>and</strong> the most direct impact on the ecological environment
in Xinjiang.
1 Definition <strong>and</strong> Conceptualization of ecological Shelters
1.1 Concept <strong>and</strong> function of ecological shelters
Ecological shelter refers to specific ecosystems located in an area. It has a structure
<strong>and</strong> function that is consistent with the specific ecological requirements
of human survival <strong>and</strong> development. From this definition we may underst<strong>and</strong>
the ecological shelter function as the protective effects of an environment that
are formed by the eco-systems <strong>and</strong> ecological processes <strong>and</strong> on which humans
living inside <strong>and</strong> outside the area depend on for their existence. It is mainly
reflected in the need for shelter <strong>and</strong> purification when adverse environmental
factors arise, <strong>and</strong> in the protection <strong>and</strong> conservation of favourable factors by
the ecosystems of the ecological shelter. Examples include the purification of
contaminated water <strong>and</strong> air, the blocking of wind, soil conservation, water
manipulation <strong>and</strong> biodiversity conservation functions of the forest ecosystems
8 General Administration of Rangel<strong>and</strong>s in Xinjiang, Urumchi
9 Information Centre of Xinjiang, Association of Social Sciences, Urumchi
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