China Releases Detailed Map of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Grassland Vegetation

A detailed map of grassland vegetation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has been released by China. The map, created at a scale of 1:500,000, was developed by a team led by Professor Wang Yanfen from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS). The map was presented at an academic seminar focused on grassland vegetation mapping.

Experts at the seminar highlighted the map's accuracy in depicting plant formation distributions. The map is based on field surveys and remote sensing data from multiple sources. It is considered significant for climate adaptation, sustainable development, and future research on the plateau's ecosystem functions.

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, often called the "roof of the world" and "Asia's water tower," is a crucial ecological barrier for China. Grasslands dominate its ecosystem, which is known to be ecologically fragile and highly susceptible to global climate change.

Changes in vegetation distribution patterns have occurred over the past 50 years due to climate change and human activity, making existing maps outdated. The second scientific expedition on the plateau, which began in 2017, provided an opportunity to update the grassland vegetation map.

The new map identifies 65 plant formations or formation groups. It reveals significant vegetation changes over the past 40 years compared to previous versions. For example, the proportion of alpine meadows, which thrive in wet and cold conditions, has increased from 50 to 69 percent in the grasslands. This supports the ongoing trend of warming and wetting on the plateau.

The research team used in situ surveys, multi-temporal satellite remote sensing data, and artificial intelligence technology to create the map. This approach integrated spectral, structural, and functional characteristics of plants with environmental factors like terrain and hydrothermal conditions. This innovative approach addresses the challenges of accurately identifying and classifying plant communities in complex high-altitude environments. The mapping process emphasizes the relationship between plant community attributes and their habitat characteristics, ensuring objectivity and efficiency.