Abstract
Background: Salar is a Turkic-speaking Islamic ethnic group in China, who live primarily in Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Salar people have engaged in agriculture especially skilled in horticulture and their homegardens (HGs) management. They are regarded as the first people on Qinghai-Tibet plateau to practice horticulture, especially manage their HGs, which are traditional farming systems and also supplementary food production systems. Traditional knowledge of Salar people associated with their homegardens always contributes in livelihood, food security, ornamental value and biodiversity conservation. The cultivation of different plants in HGs for self-sufficiency has a long tradition in China’s rural area especially in some mountainous areas. However, Salar people’s traditional HGs have not been described. The present paper aims to report the features of Salar’s HGs focusing on agrobiodiversity and its important role. Methods: The methods used in this work included literature study, semi-structured interviews, participatory observation, and panel consultation. A total of 60 households in each 9 villages were surveyed. In each household there are 4-12 family members, aged from 20 to 86 years old. The homestead size is between 200 and 1200 m2. Plant species cultivated in homegardens were identified according to Flora of China. Based on comprehensive survey of Salar people’s HGs and related background data, we identified and characterized the most important functions and ecosystem services provided by HGs of Salar people.Results: According to primary production systems, there are 4 different types of HGs, including ornamental focus, product focus, dual-purpose and multi-purpose. In total 108 (excluding weeds and bonsai) plant species were found in HGs of study area, within 43 families. The most important and frequency plants are Rosa chinensis, Armeniaca vulgaris, and Capsicum annuum. The average number of plants varied from 4 to 32 species in each homegarden in three investigated townships. HGs of Salar people contain 8 different functions and we identify and characterize 16 services: 2 regulating services, 2 support services, 4 production services and 8 culture services.Conclusion: This paper reveals the floristic diversity of HGs of Salar communities. Meanwhile, it provides basic information for homegarden agroecosystem of Salar people. Ecosystem services and function research suggested that Salar people’s homegarden agroecosystem provide ecosystem services mainly related to supply services and culture services. Salar people’s HGs are important food supplement, aesthetics and cultural spaces where knowledge related to agricultural practices is transmitted and through which households may improve their leisure and livelihoods.
Identification of Ecological Risk Zoning on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from the Perspective of Ecosystem Service Supply and Demand
