Special Column:Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of IGSNRR, CAS

Changing Process and Mechanism of Wetland Resources in Ruoergai Plateau,China

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  • 1. Key Lab.of Environment Change and Ecology Construction,Jiangsu Province,Geography College of Nanjing Normal University,Nanjing 210097,China;
    2. Department of Architecture Engineering,Kunming University of Science and Technology,Kunming 650224,China

Received date: 2005-12-19

  Revised date: 2006-04-07

  Online published: 2006-10-25

Abstract

As a particular type of natural resource in China,wetland resources in Ruoergai(Zoige)Plateau has peculiar resource quantity and quality characteristics in geographical distribution and spatial structure.Changes in wetland resources were mainly due to human activities driven by development of animal husbandry,which induced wetland shrinkage in area and degradation of ecosystem in the Plateau.This phenomenon has resulted in many negative effects on eco-environment,attracting attention of local government and many scientific research groups. Each type of natural resource has close relationship with others in a region.Wetlands and pastures have formed a whole "resources-link" system in Ruoergai Plateau due to their dominant position in area and spatial patterns.By overlaying DEM and information of each type of natural resource in the Plateau,we found that marsh wetlands are distributed in hilly areas with elevations ranging between 3 380-3 465m,accounting for 28.9% of the plateau's total area;meadow wetlands are distributed on terraces between 3 465-3 550m,accounting for 22.3%;and pastures are distributed on hill slopes between 3 550-4 000m,accounting for 40.1%.But,with the economic development and population growth,wetland resources changed greatly both in quantity and quality due to overgrazing in the past years.About 62% of the wetland resources has shrunk 62% since the 1960s,and most of them were converted into pastures.As a result,wetland ecosystems were degraded,biodiversity was changed and some environmental problems such as land desertification and dry climate have occurred in the Plateau.Many factors are attributable to these problems,but drainage of wetland and peatland reclamation induced water condition variation is the major factor resulting in wetland ecosystem succession and species changes.However,overgrazing has speeded up wetland ecosystem degradation by changing plant species composition and constant increasing in rodent animal numbers.So,suggestions for wetland conservation and sustainable utilization were summarized finally.

Cite this article

LIU Hong-yu, BAI Yun-fang . Changing Process and Mechanism of Wetland Resources in Ruoergai Plateau,China[J]. JOURNAL OF NATURAL RESOURCES, 2006 , 21(5) : 810 -818 . DOI: 10.11849/zrzyxb.2006.05.015

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