scholarly journals Buddhist Monasteries Facilitated Landscape Conservation on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naixin Cui ◽  
Tong Wu ◽  
Yi-Chen Wang ◽  
Huiting Zou ◽  
Jan Christoph Axmacher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Social Dimension ◽  
Landscape Conservation ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
Unused Land ◽  
Explicit Analysis ◽  
Village Communities ◽  
Highly Correlated

Abstract Context The Sanjiangyuan region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (also known as the “Three Rivers’ Headwaters”) is the origin of Yellow, Yangtze, and Mekong Rivers and therefore the key water source for hundreds of millions of downstream residents. Protecting this region’s ecosystems is a key priority for sustainable development in China and Asia. An important social dimension of Sanjiangyuan is the long-established and widespread presence of Tibetan Buddhism, particularly as manifested in the large number of monasteries throughout the region. However, the influence of cultural, and specifically religious, factors on environmental change remains largely understudied here. Objective We focus on two types of spatial associations - point-point and point-area features - to quantitatively investigate the effects of Buddhist monasteries on LUCC in surrounding landscapes. Methods We conduct a spatially-explicit analysis of Sanjiangyuan for two periods, 1990-2000 and 2010-2015, to identify and quantify the influence of the presence and spatial distributions of Buddhist monasteries on LUCC (or lack therefore, implying landscape conservation) in comparison to village communities that lack monasteries. Results We found a “clustering effect” in which the spatial aggregation of monasteries being highly correlated with the preservation of natural ecosystems, specifically of grasslands and forests. Within monastery buffer zones with radii between 1 and 10 km, 7.13-9.30% more grassland area and 7.14-7.47% more forest area remained around monasteries compared to villages. This contrast decreased with increasing distance to the monastery/village. Overall built-up areas were also much smaller around monasteries than around villages, while unused land was more commonly transformed to forests and grasslands around monasteries.Conclusions These findings strongly support the idea that Buddhist culture, as manifested through its physical institutions and communities, are instrumental in achieving desired landscape conservation outcomes.

scholarly journals Determinants and Values of Willingness to Pay for Water Quality Improvement: Insights from Chia Lagoon, Malawi

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 4690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodgers Makwinja ◽  
Ishmael Bobby Mphangwe Kosamu ◽  
Chikumbusko Chiziwa Kaonga
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Civic Education ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Ceteris Paribus ◽  
Holistic Approaches ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Baseline Information

Water resources in the Chia lagoon in Malawi experience a possible threat to sustainability. Communities are seeking alternatives to improve water quality in the lagoon. This study quantified the communities’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) and their influencing factors while using contingent valuation (CV) techniques. A wide range of data collection procedures, including focus group discussions, key informant interviews, field observation, and CV survey, were employed. A sample of 300 households was randomly selected. The CV results showed that 57.4% of the households were willing to pay. The monthly individual aggregate WTP amount ranged from MK696.83 (US$0.95) to MK81697 (US$111.38), and on average MK7870.45 (US$10.73), generating aggregate annual values ranging from MK6, 689,568 (US$9126.29) to MK784, 294,080 (US$1,069,978), and on average MK75,556,320 (US$103,078) (ceteris paribus). Logistic regression model demonstrated a significant (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05) relationship between demographic (gender, age, literacy level), social-economic (land ownership, main agriculture water source, and income), and institutional (civic education and social network, extension, institutional trust, household socio trust) factors and WTP. The findings from this study provide significant clues for further research and baseline information for local government and communities in the development of more effective and holistic approaches for improving water quality in natural ecosystems.

scholarly journals Constraining the Water Cycle Model of an Important Karstic Catchment in Southeast Tibetan Plateau Using Isotopic Tracers (2H, 18O, 3H, 222Rn)

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3306
Author(s):  
Dawei Liao ◽  
Zhonghe Pang ◽  
Weiyang Xiao ◽  
Yinlei Hao ◽  
Jie Du ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Natural World ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Cycle Model ◽  
Isotopic Tracers ◽  
Geological Conditions ◽  
Local Water ◽  
Southeast Tibetan Plateau

Understanding the connectivity between surface water and groundwater is key to sound geo-hazard prevention and mitigation in a waterscape such as the Jiuzhaigou Natural World Heritage Site in the southeast Tibetan Plateau, China. In this study, we used environmental isotope tracers (2H, 18O 3H, and 222Rn) to constrain a water cycle model including confirming hydrological pathways, connectivity, and water source identification in the Jiuzhaigou catchments. We established the local meteoric water line (LMWL) based on the weekly precipitation isotope sampling of a precipitation station. We systematically collected water samples from various water bodies in the study area to design the local water cycle model. The regional water level and discharge changes at one month after the earthquake indicated that there was a hydraulic connection underground across the local water divide between the Rize (RZ) river in the west and Zechawa (ZCW) lake in the east by the δ18O and δ2H measurements. We employed an end-member mixing model to identify and quantify Jiuzhaigou runoff-generating sources and their contributions, and we found that the average contributions of precipitation and groundwater to the surface runoff in the catchments are about 30% and 70%, respectively. The two branches of the Shuzheng (SZ) trunk were recharged by 62 ± 19% from the ZCW lake and 38 ± 19% from the RZ river, which was consistent with the fractions calculated by the actual discharge volume. 222Rn mass balance analyses were employed to estimate the water exchange between groundwater and river, which further confirmed this estimate. 222Rn concentrations and 3H contents showed that the groundwater had a short residence time and it was moderate precipitation, thought the contribution of groundwater to the river was 70%, according to the different tracers. A three-dimensional conceptual model of the water cycle that integrated the regional hydrological and geological conditions was established for the catchments.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Prioritized Natural Landscape Conservation Areas for National Park Planning in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ao Du ◽  
Weihua Xu ◽  
Yi Xiao ◽  
Tong Cui ◽  
Tianyu Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Parks ◽  
National Park ◽  
Landscape Conservation ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Natural Landscape ◽  
Priority Areas ◽  
Park Planning ◽  
Natural Landscapes ◽  
Four Levels

Protecting representative natural ecosystems, rich biodiversity, and unique natural landscapes are the main considerations in China’s national park planning. Here, we mapped the distribution of China’s natural landscapes and evaluated their protection values for national park planning and construction. Grading evaluation methods combining standard comparison, inventory method, and expert consultation were used, and four levels of natural landscapes were identified. Furthermore, priority areas for national parks establishment were also proposed. Of all the landscapes evaluated, 76 were extremely important, 481 were important, 2070 were moderately important, and 1213 were slightly important. A total number of 67 priority areas for natural landscapes were identified with a total area of 1,218,000 km2. They comprised land and sea areas of 1,148,000 and 69,000 km2, respectively. We suggest strengthening natural landscape protection by establishing natural parks in priority areas. Our study will contribute to the effective protection of natural landscapes in China.

scholarly journals Summer Atmospheric Heat Sources over the Western–Central Tibetan Plateau: An Integrated Analysis of Multiple Reanalysis and Satellite Datasets

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 1181-1202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiling Xie ◽  
Bin Wang
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Integrated Analysis ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Heat Sources ◽  
Central Tibetan Plateau ◽  
New Finding ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Atmospheric Heat ◽  
Heat Released

Multiple bias-corrected top-quality reanalysis datasets, gauge-based observations, and selected satellite products are synthetically employed to revisit the climatology and variability of the summer atmospheric heat sources over the Tibetan Plateau (TP). Verification-based selection and ensemble-mean methods are utilized to combine various datasets. Different from previous works, this study pays special attention to estimating the total heat source (TH) and its components over the data-void western plateau (70°–85°E), including the surface sensible heat (SH), latent heat released by precipitation (LH), and net radiation flux (RD). Consistent with previous studies, the climatology of summer SH (LH) typically increases (decreases) from southeast to northwest. Generally, LH dominates TH over most of the TP. A notable new finding is a minimum TH area over the high-altitude region of the northwestern TP, where the Karakoram mountain range is located. We find that during the period of 1984–2006, TH shows insignificant trends over the eastern and central TP, whereas it exhibits an evident increasing trend over the western TP that is attributed to the rising tendency of LH before 1996 and to that of RD after 1996. The year-to-year variation of TH over the central–eastern TP is highly correlated with that of LH, but that is not the case over the western TP. It is also worth noting that the variations of TH in each summer month are not significantly correlated with each other, and hence study of the interannual variation of the TP heat sources should consider the remarkable subseasonal variations.

scholarly journals Drinking water quality in the alpine pastures of the eastern Tibetan plateau

Rangifer ◽  
2004 ◽  
pp. 47-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mika Sillanpää ◽  
Riina-Maarit Hulkkonen ◽  
Angela Manderscheid
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Quality Factors ◽  
Guideline Values ◽  
Result Analysis ◽  
Water Quality And Quantity

The need for water quality research on the Tibetan plateau has arisen after the rangeland was allocated and leased as pasture grounds to individual nomadic families in the 1990s. These policies changed the access to water sources. The imposed fencing of the pasture tenures makes the situation even more delicate. Nomadic families are now obliged to use only water sources existing on their own site. The restrictions have caused the urge to use all available water, which resulted in increasing water quality and quantity problems. In the past, natural water sources were in common use. During the Collective era, machine-dug wells near the collective settlements facilitated the procurement of drinking water. Based on recent investigations in Dzoge county (Sichuan province), the nomadic families of some regions considered the availability of adequate drinking water for humans and animals as their biggest problem. For this study, eight water samples were collected from the Dzoge county area. All samples were from different kinds of sources, but all in continuous use by humans and animals. The samples were analyzed for typical potable water quality factors (hygienic and technique-aesthetic). The results show that the Chinese national guideline values were exceeded for NO4-N and PO4-P in most open sampling locations. Those parameters do not spoil the water by themselves, but together with suspended solids and organic materials produce a great environment for bacteria like E. coli and fecal streptococci to grow. The result analysis and pictures seen from the location reveal that bacterial growth may be the biggest problem in water quality. Even primitive protection around the water source (i.e. concrete rings, wooden barriers around edges, covers) seem to have a great impact on water quality.

scholarly journals The Properties and Formation of Cirrus Clouds over the Tibetan Plateau Based on Summertime Lidar Measurements

2013 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 901-915 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. S. He ◽  
C. C. Li ◽  
J. Z. Ma ◽  
H. Q. Wang ◽  
G. M. Shi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Longwave Radiation ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Cirrus Clouds ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Upper Troposphere ◽  
Lidar Ratio ◽  
Highly Correlated

Abstract As part of the Tibet Ozone, Aerosol and Radiation (TOAR) project, a micropulse lidar was operated in Naqu (31.5°N, 92.1°E; 4508 m MSL) on the Tibetan Plateau to observe cirrus clouds continuously from 19 July to 26 August 2011. During the experiment, the time coverage of ice clouds only was 15% in the upper troposphere (above 9.5 km MSL). The cirrus top/bottom altitudes (mean values of 15.6/14.7 km) are comparable to those measured previously at tropical sites but relatively higher than those measured at midlatitude sites. The majority of the cloud layers yielded a lidar ratio between 10 and 40 sr, with a mean value of 28 ± 15 sr, characterized by a bimodal frequency distribution. Subvisible, thin, and opaque cirrus formation was observed in 16%, 34%, and 50% of all cirrus cases, respectively. A mean cirrus optical depth of 0.33 was observed over the Tibetan Plateau, slightly higher than those in the subtropics and tropics. With decreasing temperature, the lidar ratio increased slightly, whereas the mean extinction coefficient decreased significantly. The occurrence of clouds is highly correlated with the outgoing longwave radiation and the strong cold perturbations in the upper troposphere. Deep convective activity and Rossby waves are important dynamical processes that control cirrus variations over the Tibetan Plateau, where both anvil cirrus outflowing from convective cumulonimbus clouds and large-scale strong cold perturbations in the upper troposphere should play an important role in cirrus formation.

Remote Sensing Monitoring and Analysis on the Use of Land and Cover Changes for Songhuaba Water Source Areas

2013 ◽  
Vol 726-731 ◽  
pp. 4600-4603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Li ◽  
Ju Rui Yang ◽  
Yi Long Liu
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Soil And Water Loss ◽  
Unused Land ◽  
Land Use Types ◽  
System Use ◽  
Water District

By using the technologies of remote sensing and geographical information system, use the source protection zones of Songhuaba 1982,1986,1992,1996,2001,2006,2010 LANDSAT TM remote sensing image for interpretation; analyze the reasons of land use change in this area. From the results: The water district garden and woodland are the main types of land. As the human, natural and other factors driving, unused land, residential areas, the grass have reduced. Some unreasonable land use structure in the protected areas, also cause the land use types are constantly changing and increasingly serious soil and water loss.

scholarly journals Evapotranspiration and Its Partitioning in Alpine Meadow of Three-River Source Region on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 2061
Author(s):  
Lifeng Zhang ◽  
Zhiguang Chen ◽  
Xiang Zhang ◽  
Liang Zhao ◽  
Qi Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Alpine Meadow ◽  
Source Region ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Net Radiation ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Plant Transpiration ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Meadow Degradation

The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) is generally considered to be the water source region for its surrounding lowlands. However, there have only been a few studies that have focused on quantifying alpine meadow evapotranspiration (ET) and its partitioning, which are important components of water balance. This paper used the Shuttleworth–Wallace (S–W) model to quantify soil evaporation (E) and plant transpiration (T) in a degraded alpine meadow (34°24′ N, 100°24′ E, 3963 m a.s.l) located at the QTP from September 2006 to December 2008. The results showed that the annual ET estimated by the S–W model (ETSW) was 511.5 mm (2007) and 499.8 mm (2008), while E estimated by the model (ESW) was 306.0 mm and 281.7 mm for 2007 and 2008, respectively, which was 49% and 29% higher than plant transpiration (TSW). Model analysis showed that ET, E, and T were mainly dominated by net radiation (Rn), while leaf area index (LAI) and soil water content at a 5 cm depth (SWC5cm) were the most important factors influencing ET partitioning. The study results suggest that meadow degradation may increase water loss through increasing E, and reduce the water conservation capability of the alpine meadow ecosystem.

scholarly journals Hydrologic Variations and Stochastic Modeling of Runoff in Zoige Wetland in the Eastern Tibetan Plateau

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guanghua Qin ◽  
Hongxia Li ◽  
Zejiang Zhou ◽  
Kechao Song ◽  
Li Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Nearest Neighbor ◽  
Time Series Data ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Annual Runoff ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Eastern Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Double Peaks ◽  
Zoige Wetland

Hydrological time series data (1988–2008) of the Hei River, the main water source to Zoige wetland in the Eastern Tibetan Plateau, were investigated. Results showed that the runoff distribution of Hei River varies with the relative change in amplitude (Cm=15.9) and the absolute change in amplitude (ΔQ=37.1 m3/s) during the year. There was a significant decreasing trend since 1988 with annual runoff of 20.0 m3/s (1988–1994), 19.0 m3/s (1995–2000), and 15.2 m3/s (2001–2008). There were double peaks in runoff during the water year: the highest peak in the period of 1988–2000 occurred in July while in the period of 2001–2008 it occurred in October. Shifting peak flow means less water quantity in wetland during growing season. Nearest neighbor bootstrapping regressive method was used to predict daily runoff of the Hei River. Model results show that it was fitted with 94.23% ofR2for daily time series, which can provide a basis for the development and utilization of regional water resources.

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