Introduction: landscape and ecosystem diversity in the yellow river source zone

Abstract

The Upper Yellow River lies at the margins of and atop the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. This chapter provides an overview of contemporary understandings of the geography, geology, climate, geomorphology and palaeoenvironments, vegetation, and fauna of the area. Tectonic uplift and river incision have induced a wide range of charismatic landscapes, many of which retain a significant imprint from Quaternary environmental changes, especially the glaciated mountains, vast lake, river, permafrost, desert and loess landscapes, and countless wetland areas. The plateau is an important alpine biodiversity hot spot. The high elevation, along with prevailing semi-arid/arid climatic conditions and associated vegetation cover, has created distinctive but vulnerable ecosystems. Large grassland areas support sparse populations of nomadic herdsmen. Mounting evidence suggests that human activities over thousands of years have induced a regime shift from forest cover to grazing-adapted grassland across much of the plateau. In recent decades, population growth has accompanied demands for economic expansion as part of the ‘Great Development of the West’ in China. Climate change and human activities threaten the landscapes and ecosystems of the Upper Yellow River. Telltale signs of accelerated environmental adjustments include retreating glaciers, melting permafrost, decreasing river flows, shrinking lakes and wetlands, hillslope instability, degrading vegetation, declining grassland productivity, salinity problems, and accelerated desertification. In outlining the structure of this book, this chapter draws attention to three key threads of enquiry: the primacy of landscape diversity and notions of place as an integrative platform for applied research, the importance of field-based understandings alongside remotely sensed applications, and how viewing humans as part of ecosystems helps to shape prospects for more effective approaches to environmental management.