Characteristics of Forests in Tibet and Thoughts on Their Development

　　Zhu Xuelin（China）

　　Forests are the major piece of Tibet’s terrestrial ecosystem, and play an irreplaceable role in terms of combating global warming and safeguarding the planet’s ecological balance. With typical plateau ecological features, forests in Tibet have created an ecosystem which is unique and cannot be replicated. Due to the important and special role of its plateau ecosystems, the Chinese government has designated Tibet “an important shield for national ecological security,” and incorporated it into the country’s strategic plan for promoting ecological progress and ecological safety.

　　The government’s compensation of non-commercial forests, heavy investment in forestry ecological construction, and ecological tourism revenue are important components of Tibet’s economy. It is fair to say that Tibet’s development relies on the development of the plateau ecosystem. Forests are the foundation, conduit, and protective screen of Tibet’s development.

　　Ⅰ Tibet’s Forest Resources

　　Forests in Tibet cover a total area of around 14.7 million hectares, ranking the fifth in the country, with the forest coverage of nearly 12 percent.

　　Deemed a “green treasure chest” of southwestern China, Tibet’s forests are some of the few unspoiled primeval forests in China. Tibet also features abundant plants. According to incomplete statistics, this area is home to 6,533 kinds of higher plants, among which 6 are under first-class state protection, and 24 under second-class protection.

　　Ⅱ Features of Tibet’s Forest Resources

　　Tibet’s forests possess distinctive plateau ecological features, which are closely related to local geography, climate and its changes.

　　A. Distinctive forest zonality.

　　The environmental zones of Tibet’s forest and vegetation are distinctive, affording rich vegetation diversity. Vertical distribution types from southeast to northwest include forest, alpine shrub, plateau meadow, alpine steppe, and alpine desert. 

　　B. Massive biomass reserves.

　　Tibet’s forests feature large stock volume per unit area and massive biomass reserves.

　　C. Natural, virgin, uneven aged mature and over-mature forests make up the majority.

　　In terms of the region’s forested area, mature and over-mature forests account for nearly 56 percent, with natural, virgin, uneven aged mature and over-mature forests taking up the majority. This proportion is rarely seen in China’s other provinces or autonomous regions. Abundant mature and over-mature forests in Tibet showcase the unique ecological system of the plateau forests, its vitality, and sound ecological functionality.

　　D. A few tree species.

　　Tree species in Tibet are comparatively few, with a high proportion of pure forests. In terms of Tibet’s forest resources, pure forests account for more than 93 percent, among which area of pure arbor resources account for 91 percent, and area of shrubbery makes up nearly 95 percent.　

　　E. Forests are healthy and possess high-level ecological functionality.

　　Vast and lush forests grow in southeastern Tibet. The area is home to abundant and precious forest vegetation resources. Many tree species live for centuries. These forests are healthy and possess sound ecological conditions. 

　　F. Conditions to develop forests are not ideal. 

　　With a vast area and an average altitude of more than 4,000 meters, Tibet’s natural conditions are harsh, except the southeastern forests. Thus, it is difficult to increase forest areas by artificial planting. Of the 410,000 hectares of land which are designated as suitable for forest, nearly 75 percent are located at places 3,500 meters above sea level.

　　G. Lower proportion of forest.

　　Tibet’s total forest coverage stands at only 11.98 percent, ranking low both in China and even the world. Among them, 55.4 percent are trees while the rest are shrubbery.

　　Ⅲ The General Situation of the Forestry Development in Tibet

　　A.Sound shield for plateau ecology. 

　　Tibet is an important protective shield for the country’s ecological security. Its area of non-commercial forests measures nearly 19 million hectares, accounting for 97 percent of the region’s total forested area and nearly 16 percent of its total land.

　　B.Well-protected forest resources. 

　　In recent years, through various measures, Tibet’s forests have remained well-protected and are recuperating. These measures include constructing ecological non-commercial forests, protecting natural forests, protecting wildlife, and constructing nature reserves.

　　C. Achievements in land greening.

　　Local governments attach great importance to the cultivation of artificial forests. Various measures have been employed to promote afforestation, including conceding land to forestry, constructing non-commercial forests in key areas, protecting and constructing protective screens for Tibet’s ecological security, greening projects for Lhasa and its neighboring areas, projects for preventing and controlling desertification, comprehensive agricultural development projects, and voluntary tree-planting campaigns. Through such measures, sound ecological, social and economic benefits have been achieved. 

　　D. Building a beautiful Tibet with ecological progress. 

　　Since Tibet’s abundant forest and wetland resources have been well protected and carefully developed, its plateau forest ecosystems, wetland ecosystems, and biodiversity are effectively protected. By doing this, Tibet’s position as an important national ecological protective screen has been consolidated, and it has become well motivated to build a beautiful Tibet through ecological progress.

　　E. Difficulties. 

　　Due to the plateau’s special climate, Tibet’s ecosystem is extremely fragile. If forests there are destroyed, they are difficult or even impossible to restore. At present, problems such as desertification and soil erosion have already impacted the environment of Tibet and even China as a whole, threatening Tibet’s economic and social development and ecological security.

　　With Tibet’s development, demand for resources such as land and forests has increased. At the same time, some resources, such as forests and wildlife, have economic value which has increased and become more evident. Thus, efforts for resource protection and management are facing greater pressure, the situation of wildlife and biodiversity protection is not optimistic, and ecological protection is under great pressure.

　　Site conditions for tree planting are worsening, supporting facilities such as irrigation systems are falling behind, and ecological construction is facing greater difficulties.

　　Ⅳ Thoughts on Tibet’s Forestry Development

　　A. Reinforcing management and protecting the existing forests. 

　　The primary task for Tibet’s forestry remains to protecting existing forests. Through reinforcing forestry management, supervising forest land, establishing a long-term mechanism for ecological benefit compensation, existing forests will be well protected.

　　B. Cultivating and developing forest resources.

　　Through closing hillsides to facilitate afforestation and artificial measures promoting regeneration, forest resources will increase. More trees should be planted to increase the area of forests.

　　C. Developing forest ecological tourism.

　　Tibet’s unique plateau forests are a spectacular tourism resource. To better serve the public and promote ecological progress, forest tourism should be actively developed. Sightseeing routes should be well designed, construction of scenic spots should be strengthened, and measures to safeguard tourists should be better developed.

　　D. Increasing forests’ ecological service value.

　　Tibet’s forests are home to many precious resources. However, abundant forest resources haven’t brought many economic benefits to locals. Thus, by conducting research and activities which showcase the forests’ ecological value such as the plateau forest carbon-sink, people can discuss the ways to incorporate Tibet’s forests into carbon sink trade, measure the ecological value of Tibet’s forests, and explore better compensation mechanisms, thus enhancing the ecological service value of Tibet forests.

　　（Zhu Xuelin, Research Fellow, President of Tibet’s Forestry Survey Planning Institute）