Primary estimation of service values of Maqu wetland grassland ecosystems in the upriver area of yellow river conservation district

Maqu wetland grassland ecosystem not only is the basic resource for economicsocial sustainable development, but also is the natural barrier in the upriver area of Yellow River Water Conservation District. Its value was 55.7671.54 billion yuan RMB per year by the methods used in worldwide, which is about 1519 times of Maqus GDP. However, its cost was higher than the average levels in both China and the whole world. This is the main factor of grassland degradation. In our opinion, in order control the degradation of grassland in this area, management strategies would be changed into the intensive way for the grassland resource protection and higheffective stockbreeding production from the extensive way for getting fodder.