Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve
Encyclopedia
Qinghai
Qinghai ; Oirat Mongolian: ; ; Salar:) is a province of the People's Republic of China, named after Qinghai Lake...
province, PRC which contains the headwaters of the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
(Huang He), the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
(Chang Jiang), and the Mekong
Mekong
The Mekong is a river that runs through China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is the world's 10th-longest river and the 7th-longest in Asia. Its estimated length is , and it drains an area of , discharging of water annually....
River (Lancang Jiang). The SNNR was established to protect the headwaters of these three rivers. The reserve consists of 18 subareas, each containing three zones which are managed with differing degrees of strictness.
Along with wetland and waters protection, other ecological values, such as grassland, forest, and wildlife enhancement, have also been presented as goals. To advance the goals of the SNNR uncontrolled or poorly managed mining, logging, hunting, and grazing have been curtailed. Foreign and other mining firms have replaced the uncontrolled miners, trees have been planted, and measures have been taken to protect endangered species. To protect the grasslands, pastoralists are not permitted to graze their animals in designated ‘core zones’ (see below), and grazing is supervised elsewhere in the SNNR. In addition, residents have been resettled from core zones and other grassland areas of the SNNR, and rangeland has been fenced and is in the process of being privatized throughout the Sanjiangyuan Area.
The Sanjiangyuan Area and the Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve
The Sanjiangyuan Area [三江源地区] covers the southern and eastern parts of Qinghai and has an area of about 363,000 km2, 50.4% of Qinghai. Included in it wholly or partially are 18 counties of the four Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures Yushu, Guoluo, Hainan, and Haungnan, and Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. The Sanjiangyuan Area’s population is about 600,000, 90% of which are Tibetan. 70% of the Sanjiangyuan Area’s population are considered to be ‘impoverished’, with the average income of about 2000 RMB (roughly $300) per person/year. Since animal husbandry is the primary source of income, and many people are nomadic, this figure does not reflect the actual standard of living in a largely non-cash economy. The Sanjiangyuan Area in general has no special legal status, and the term is used to indicate the region in which the three rivers arise, and the SNNR exists.The Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve (SNNR) is a subarea of the Sanjiangyuan Area which covers an area of about 152,300 km2, 21% of Qinghai, 42% of the Sanjiangyuan Area. It is larger than England and Wales combined. About 200,000 people traditionally live within the area covered by the SNNR. Since the government has been resettling people residing in the Sanjiangyuan Area, with over 60,000 resettled so far, and plans to resettle all nomads in Qinghai by 2011, it is unclear how current the figure of 200,000 is. The State Forestry Administration and the Qinghai government legally established the SNNR in May, 2000. Its Management Bureau was founded September, 2001, and the SNNR obtained State-level (national) status January, 2003. The Management Bureau is in Xining, and is under the Qinghai Forest Bureau. Mr. Wang Zhibao, Director of the State Forest Administration, has said the goals of the nature reserve protect the Tibetan Plateau ecosystem, with a focus on alpine swamp meadow and the natural habitat of wildlife in the Sanjiangyuan Area.
The SNNR consists of 18 subareas. These are of three types: wetland conservation (8 subareas), wildlife conservation (3 subareas), and shrubland/forest conservation (7 subareas). Each SNNR subarea has three zones: a core zone; a buffer zone; a multiple-use experimental zone.
The core zone is strictly managed with no grazing and has measures to protect endangered species. All development and use are prohibited. It is a ‘no man’s zone’, with all its residents resettled elsewhere.
The buffer zone promotes conservation but allows limited and rotational grazing. Residents from degraded are being resettled.
The multiple-use experimental zones may also be used for scientific investigations, eco-tourism, and other green industries. Residents from degraded areas are being resettled.
The predecessors to the zones on the SNNR map may be grazing zones which were part of the tuimu huancao, ‘converting pastures to grasslands’ program, which got its start in 2000. In this program there were three types of zones to address the problem of degraded pastures: zones in which grazing was permanently banned, zones in which grazing was to be banned for typically three to ten years, and zones which were seasonally closed to grazing or allowed seasonal rotational grazing. The implementation of four kinds of zones in Yushu and Guoluo prefectures also seem to provide a precedent, if these are not the SNNR map’s zones themselves described differently. The first two of these zones correspond to what is referred to on the SNNR map as the ‘core zone’, the third to the ‘buffer zone’, and the fourth to the ‘experimental zone’. In the third (i.e. buffer) zone there was to be a reduction in grazing or a ban on grazing for five or ten years., and in the fourth (i.e. experimental) zone there was to be rotational grazing to capacity.
Since the government also has a poverty reduction and a major project (e.g. dams) resettlement program, and plans to resettle all nomads by 2011, residents from the buffer and the experimental zones may be resettled under these programs rather than the ecological resettlement program.
The absolute and relative sizes, and the populations before resettlement, of the zones are:
| Core | Buffer | Experimental | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | 31,218 km2 | 39,242 km2 | 81,882 km2 |
| % Total | 20.5% | 25.8% | 53.7% |
| Population | 40,000+ | 50,000+ | 120,000 |
The boundaries and characters of the zones are likely open to negotiation. For example, the Canadian mining company Inter-Citic’s Dachang gold prospect is in either a buffer or experimental zone (or both).
In addition, only the 3 functional subareas of the SNNR, those with protection stations, have definite boundaries. The other 15 subareas are more a plan for their final delineation. The three functional subareas are A'nimaqin
Amne Machin
Amne Machin is the highest peak of a mountain range named Amne Machin , or, in Chinese,Animaqing Shan in the province of Qinghai in west-central China.-Geography:...
, Suojia-Qumahe (2 stations,one in each Qumahe and Suojia), and Tongtian He
Tongtian River
The Tongtian River is a section of the Yangtze River within China's Qinghai Province. . It is one of the...
. As our information is several years old, more subareas may now have protection stations and definite boundaries.
Prefectures, Counties, and Townships in the SNNR
The SNNR is entirely in Qinghai. The following table lists the 71 townships which are wholly or partially in the SNNR.| Prefecture | County | Townships |
|---|---|---|
| Yushu | Yushu | Xiaosuomang, Zhongda, Anchong, Haxiu, Batang |
| Yushu | Nangqên Nangqên County Nangqên County, or Nangchen , is a county of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in southernmost Qinghai province, China.... (Nangqian) |
Maozhuang, Ninagla, Baizha, Jinisai, Dongba, Gayong, Jiequ, Zhuoxiao |
| Yushu | Zadoi Zadoi County Zadoi County is a county of Qinghai Province, China. It is under the administration of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.... (Zaduo) |
Chari, Jieduo, Mouyun, Zhaqing, Aduo, Ansai |
| Yushu | Zhidoi Zhidoi County Zhidoi County is a county of Qinghai Province, China. It is under the administration of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.... (Zhiduo) |
Soujia, Lixin, Zhahe |
| Yushu | Qumarleb Qumarleb County Qumarlêb County Qumarlêb County Qumarlêb County (Tibetan pinyin: ཆུ་དམར་ལེབ་རྫོང; is a county in the northeast of the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, south-central Qinghai province, Western China... (Qumalai) |
Maduo, Bagan, Dongfeng, Qumahe, Yege |
| Yushu | Chindu Chindu County Chindu County is a county of Qinghai Province, China. It is under the administration of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.... (Chengduo) |
Labu, Chengwen, Gaduo, Xiewu, Zaduo, Zhengqing |
| Golog Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is an autonomous prefecture of Qinghai province in China. The prefecture has an area of 76,312 km² and its capital is Maqên County.-Geography:... (Guoluo) |
Maqên Maqên County Maqên County is a county of Qinghai Province, China. It is under the administration of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.... (Maqin) |
XueShan, Xiadawu, Lajia, Dongqingou, Dawu, Youyun, Dangluo, Changmahe |
| Golog (Guoluo) | Madoi Madoi County Madoi County is a county of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, China. It's area is about 25,000km² and with average elevation 4,300m is highest county of China.... (Maduo) |
Heihe, Huanghe, Huashixia, Zhalinghu |
| Golog (Guoluo) | Darlag Darlag County Darlag County is a county of Qinghai Province, China. It is under the administration of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.... (Dari) |
Tehetu |
| Golog (Guoluo) | Gadê Gadê County Gadê County is a county of Qinghai Province, China. It is under the administration of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.... (Gande) |
Xiazangke, Ganglong |
| Golog (Guoluo) | Baima Baima County Banma County is a county of Qinghai Province, China. It is under the administration of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. The Red Army of the Chinese Communist Party passed through Baima in 1936 during the Long March. The seat of Baima county is in Moba township .-References:... (Banma) |
Zhiqing, Ya’rtang, Denta, Mouba, Jiangri Tang |
| Golog (Guoluo) | Jigzhi Jigzhi County Jigzhi County is a county of Qinghai Province, China. It is under the administration of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.... (Jiuzhi) |
Suhurima, Wasai, Mentang, Kansai, Riyu |
| Hainan Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is an autonomous prefecture of northeastern Qinghai Province in Western China. The prefecture has an area of and its seat is located in Gonghe County... |
Xinghai Xinghai County Xinghai County is county under the jurisdiction of Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, People's Republic of ChinaXinghai has an area of 13,158 square kilometers, and a 2001 population of 60,000.... |
Zhongtie, Longzang, Wenquan, Qushian |
| Hainan | Tongde | Xiuma, Tanggan, Gumang |
| Huangnan Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is an autonomous prefecture of Qinghai province in China. The prefecture has area of 17,921 km² and its capital is Tongren county.- Demographics :... |
Zeku | Duohemao, Duofudun, Xibusha |
| Huangnan | Henan | Ningmute |
| Haixi Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is an autonomous prefecture in northern Qinghai province of Western China. It has an area of and its capital is Delingha... |
Golmud Golmud Golmud , sometimes transliterated as Ge'ermu or Geermu, is a county-level city in Qinghai Province, Western China. Administrated by Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, it is the second largest city in Qinghai and the third largest in the Tibetan Plateau . The population is now about... (Ge’ermu) |
Tanggulashan Tanggulashan Town Tanggulashan , sometimes simply called Tanggula Town , is a town in the southwest of Qinghai province, Western China. It forms the southern exclave of the county-level city of Golmud, in Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture... |
| Haixi | Dulan Dulan County Dulan County is a county of Qinghai Province, China. It is under the administration of Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.... |
Balong |
SNNR’s 18 Conservation Subareas
This table lists the names of the conservation subareas and the counties they wholly or partially occupy.| Type | Name | Prefecture | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wetland | Xingxing Hai | Guoluo | Maduo, Dari, Maqen |
| Wetland | Nianbao Yuzi | Guoluo | Jiuzhi, Gande, Banma |
| Wetland | Dangqu | Yushu | Zaduo |
| Wetland | Geladandong | Haixi | Ge’ermu |
| Wetland | A’nimaqin | Guoluo | Maqen, Maduo |
| Wetland | Yuegu Zhonglie | Yushu | Qumalai |
| Wetland | Zhaling-Eling Hu | Guoluo,Yushu,Haixi | Maduo, Qumalai, Chengduo, Dulan |
| Wetland | Guozong Mucha | Yushu | Zaduo |
| Wildlife | Suojia-Qumahe | Yushu | Zhiduo, Qumalai |
| Wildlife | Jiangxi | Yushu | Yushu, Nangqian |
| Wildlife | Baizha | Yushu | Nangqian |
| Shrubland/forest | Tongtian He | Yushu | Chengduo, Yushu, Qumalai, Zhiduo |
| Shrubland/forest | Dongzhong Batang | Yushu | Yushu |
| Shrubland/forest | Angsai | Yushu | Zaduo |
| Shrubland/forest | Zhongtie Jungong | Hainan, Huangnan, Guoluo | Xinghai, Tongde, Henan, Maqen |
| Shrubland/forest | Duoke He | Guoluo | Banma |
| Shrubland/forest | Maixiu | Huangnan | Zeku |
| Shrubland/forest | Make He | Guoluo | Banma |
Birds found in the SNNR Area
Tibetan snowcock, Tibetan partridge, Mute swan, Greylag goose, Bar-headed goose, Ruddy shelduck, Mallard, Spot-billed duck, Common teal, Common pochard, Common merganser, Common hoopoe, Fork-tailed swift, Little owl, Hill pigeon, Red collared dove, Black-necked crane, Tibetan sandgrouse, Common redshank, Green sandpiper, Common sandpiper, Ibisbill, Little ringed plover, Lesser sand plover, Pallas's gull, Brown-headed gull, Common tern, Black-eared kite, Lammergeier, Himalayan griffon, Cinereous vulture, Common buzzard, Upland buzzard, Steppe eagle, Golden eagle, Common kestrel, Merlin, Saker falcon, Peregrine falcon, Great crested grebe,Little egret, Grey heron, Black stork, Hume's groundpecker, Red-billed chough, Common raven, White-throated dipper, Black redstart, Hodgson's redstart, Daurian redstart, White-winged redstart, White-capped water redstart, Common starling, Wallcreeper, Sand martin, Asian house martin, White-browed tit warbler, Tibetan lark, Oriental skylark, Horned lark, House sparrow, Eurasian tree sparrow, White-winged snowfinch, TIbetan snowfinch, White-rumped snowfinch, Rufous-necked snowfinch, Plain-backed snowfinch, White wagtail, Citrine wagtail, Richard's pipit, Alpine accentor, Robin accentor, Brown accentor, Twite, Brandt's mountain finch, Common rosefinch, Streaked rosefinch, Great rosefinch, Red-fronted rosefinch.Mammals found in the SNNR Area
Wolf, Red fox, Sand fox, Brown bear, Otter, Alpine weasel, Steppe polecat, Eurasian badger, Pallas's cat, Lynx, Snow Leopard, Wild Ass, Alpine musk deer, Wild yak, Tibetan antelope, Tibetan gazelle, White-lipped deer, Blue sheep, Tibetan argali, Himalayan marmot, Tibetan hamster, Black-lipped pika, Large-eared pika, Glovers pika, Wooly hare.Further reading
Banks, T. et al. (May 2003), "Community Based Grasslands Management in Western China", Mountain Research and Development, Vol. 23, No. 2 .Banks, T. (2003), "Property Rights Reform in Rangeland China: Dilemmas On the Road to the Household Ranch", World Development, Vol. 31, No. 12.
Foggin, J.M. ( Feb. 2008), "Depopulating the Tibetan Grasslands", Mountain research and Development, Vol. 28, No. 1.
Miller, J.D. (2007), "The World of Tibetan Nomads", in "DROKPA:Nomads of the Tibetan Plateau and Himalaya", Vajra Publishers.
Richard, C. et al. (2006), "The Paradox of the Individual Household Responsibility System in the Grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau", USDA Forest Service Proceedings.
Worthy, F.R. & Foggin, J.M., "From the Field (Fall 2008), Conflicts between local villagers and Tibetan brown bears in a remote region of the Tibetan Plateau", Human-Wildlife Conflicts 2(2).
Yeh, E. (2003), "Tibet Range Wars: Spatial Politics and Authority on the Grasslands of Amdo", Development and Change, 34(3).
External links
- Climate Change on the Tibetan Plateau, Asia Society: http://www.asiasociety.org/chinagreen/
- An good source of downloadable articles about Tibetan nomads, Case Western Reserve University’s Center for the Research on Tibet: http://www.case.edu/affil/tibet/tibetanNomads/books.htm
- "No One Has the Liberty to Refuse", Human Rights Watch: http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2007/06/10/no-one-has-liberty-refuse-0/
- Information on Qinghai and the SNNR, Plateau Perspectives: http://www.plateauperspectives.org/
- A Tibetan version of the SNNR Map can be found at the Tibetan Plateau blog: http://tibetanplateau.blogspot.com/
- A Google Earth kmz file of the Sanjiangyuan Area can be downloaded from the World Database On Protected Areas: http://www.wdpa.org/