Current situation and development trend of the alpine rangeland ecosystem in northern Tibet, China

As a case of the Naqu region in northern Tibet, this study analyzed the current situation and development trend of alpine rangeland ecosystem from alpine rangeland, population, livestock and social economy of Naqu region in northern Tibet from 1955 to 2005. During the 50 years, the annual average temperature increased 0.8-2.0 ℃, with an average annual precipitation increased by 100-240 mm. Animal husbandry population increased by 5 times or so, and livestock numbers increased by 2.9 times. Per capita net income of the herds increased by 94.1%, and the per capita consumption expenditure increased by 93.1%. The degradation area of alpine rangeland accounted for 64.3% of the total rangeland area in the Naqu region in northern Tibet. These results showed that main reasons of alpine rangeland degradation were increasing in population of herdsman and overgrazing, but not climatic change due to development of weather varied from dry to moist from 1955 to 2005. These reasons make positive contribution to slow down trend of rangeland degradation. Therefore, rational using rangeland resources through correctly managing relation between ecological safety shelter zone and animal husbandry economy is an issue that needs to be resolved to maintain the alpine rangeland ecosystem in northern Tibet.