Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Managing the Three-Rivers Headwater Region, China: From Ecological Engineering to Social Engineering

  • Perspective
  • Published:
AMBIO Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The three-rivers headwater region (THRHR) of Qinghai province, China plays a key role as source of fresh water and ecosystem services for central and eastern China. Global warming and human activities in the THRHR have threatened the ecosystem since the 1980s. Therefore, the Chinese government has included managing of the THRHR in the national strategy since 2003. The State Integrated Test and Demonstration Region of the THRHR highlights the connection with social engineering (focus on improving people’s livelihood and well-being) in managing nature reserves. Based on this program, this perspective attempts a holistic analysis of the strategic role of the THRHR, requirements for change, indices of change, and approaches to change. Long-term success of managing nature reserves requires effective combination of ecological conservation, economic development, and social progress. Thus, the philosophy of social engineering should be employed as a strategy to manage the THRHR.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

References

  • Adams, W.M. 1990. Green development: Environment and sustainability in the Third World. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkes, F., J. Colding, and C. Folke. 2000. Rediscovery of traditional ecological knowledge as adaptive management. Ecological Applications 10: 1251–1262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berkes, F., J. Colding, and C. Folke. 2001. Linking social–ecological systems. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang, G.G., F.X. Li, and L. Li. 2011.Wetland change and restoration in the three-river headwater region. Beijing: China Meteorological Press (in Chinese).

  • Dianfa, Z., L. Fengquan, and B. Jianmin. 2000. Eco-environmental effect of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau uplift on the Quaternary of China. Environmental Geology 39: 1352–1358 (in Chinese).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dong, S.C., C.J. Zhou, and H.Y. Wang. 2002. Ecological crisis and countermeasures of the Three Rivers Headstream Regions. Journal of Natural Resource 17: 713–720 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fang, Y.P., Y. Zeng, and S.M. Li. 2005. Management philosophy and practices of habitats conservation for Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China. Wuhan University Journal of Natural Science 10: 730–738.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fang, Y.P., D.H. Qin, and Y.J. Ding. 2010. Changes in stress within grassland ecosystems in the three counties of the source regions of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers. Journal of Arid Land 2: 116–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fang, Y.P., D.H. Qin, and Y.J. Ding. 2011a. Frozen soil change and adaptation of animal husbandry: A case of the source regions of Yangtze and Yellow Rivers. Environmental Science & Policy 14: 555–568.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fang, Y.P., D.H. Qin, Y.J. Ding, J.P. Yang, and K.Y. Xu. 2011b. The Impacts of permafrost change on NPP and implications: A case of the source regions of Yangtze and Yellow Rivers. Journal of Mountain Science 8: 437–447.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fang, Y.P., D.H. Qin, M.Z. Deng, and Z.Q. Ge. 2012. Change and affecting element of grassland ecosystem in the source regions of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers based on sociological perspective. Arid Land Geography 35: 73–81 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Foggin, J.M. 2011. Rethinking “ecological migration” and the value of cultural continuity: A response to Wang, Song and Hu. AMBIO 40: 100–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • GaDanCaiRang, and Z.M. Li. 2011. Pastoral areas ecological emigration review—With perspective of Sanjiangyuan National Preserve. Journal of Qinghai Normal University (Philosophy and Social Sciences) 33: 49–52 (in Chinese).

  • Guan, G.X. 2011. Studying on three-river source eco-immigrants subsistence issue. New Heights 30: 7–14 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, C. 2010. Rangeland degradation on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau: A review of the evidence of its magnitude and causes. Journal of Arid Environments 74: 1–12.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Information Office of the State Council. (IOSC). 2011. A white paper on The Socialist System of Laws with Chinese Characteristics. Retrieved 2 October, 2012, from http://english.qstheory.cn/resources/white_paper/2011/201110/t20111028120144.htm.

  • Jin, H.J., R.X. He, G.D. Cheng, Q.B. Wu, S.L. Wang, L.Z. Lu, and X.L. Chang. 2009. Changes in frozen ground in the source area of the Yellow River on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China, and their eco-environmental impacts. Environmental Research Letter 4: 045206. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/4/4/045206.

  • Liu, M.C., D.Q. Li, and Y.M. Wen. 2005. The protection of biological diversity in the Sanjiangyuan Natural Reserve. Journal of Arid Land Resource Environment 19: 49–53 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo, K.L., and Z.H. Yang. 2011. On the relationship between traditional Tibetan nomadic way and the safety of the sources of three great rivers in China. Journal of Jishou University (Social Sciences Edition) 32: 37–42 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma, Y.S., Q.M. Dong, J.J. Shi, X.D. Sun, Y.L. Wang, L. Sheng, and S.H. Yang. 2008. Classification and control measure of “Black-soil-beach” degraded grassland in three river headwater region. Chinese Qinghai Journal of Animal and Veterinary Science 3: 1–3 (in Chinese).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mitsch, W.J., and S.E. Jorgensen. 1989. Introduction to ecological engineering. In Ecological engineering: An introduction to ecotechnology, ed. W.J. Mitsch, and S.E. Jorgensen, 3–12. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Congress of the Communist Party of China. (NCCPC). 2002. Build a well-off society in an all-round way and create a new situation in building socialism with Chinese characteristics. Retrieved 24 March, 2011, from http://www.bjreview.com.cn/document/txt/2011-03/24/content_360557.htm.

  • Qinghai Institute of Economic Research. 2008. Research report on implementation the scientific concept of development, promotion comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable development. Qinghai Economic Research 6: 26–36 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, K.S. 1997. Ecological security and multinational corporations. Environmental Change and Security Project (ECSP), Report 3a, 29–36. Retrieved 13 November 2003, from http://wwics.si.edu/topics/pubs/report3a.pdf.

  • Romero, C., S. Athayde, J.E. Collomb, M. DiGiano, M. Schmink, S. Schramski, and L. Seales. 2012. Conservation and development in Latin America and Southern Africa: Setting the stage. Ecology and Society 17: 17. Retrieved 3 October, 2012, from http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-04863-170217.

  • Shang, Z.H., and R.J. Long. 2005. Formation reason and recovering problem of the “black soil type” degraded alpine grassland in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Chinese Journal of Ecology 24: 652–656 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Shen, X.L., S. Li, N. Chen, S.Z. Li, W.J. McShea, and Z. Lu. 2012. Does science replace traditions? Correlates between traditional Tibetan culture and local bird diversity in Southwest China. Biological Conservation 145: 160–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shi, F.T., R.P. Ma, and Q. Chang. 2011. Survey of implementation on the returning grazing land to grassland program in the Three-River Headwater Region. Pruataculture and Animal Husbandry 8: 31–38 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Statistical Bureau of Qinghai Province. 2011. Qinghai Statistical Yearbook -2010. Beijing: China Statistics Press (in Chinese).

  • Timoshenko, A.S. 1989. Ecological security: The international aspect. Pace Environmental Law Review 7: 151–160. Retrieved 27 September, 2012, from http://digitalcommons.pace.edu/pelr/vol7/iss1/18.

  • Wang, Z.M., K.S. Song, and L.J. Hui. 2010. China’s largest scale ecological migration in the Three-River Headwater Region. AMBIO 39: 443–446.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao, T., J.B. Wang, and Z.Q. Chen. 2010. Vulnerability of grassland ecosystems in the Sanjiangyuan region based on NPP. Resource Science 32: 323–330 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Xinhua. 2011. The Outline of the 12th Five-Year Program for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China. Retrieved 5 October 2012, from, http://www.asifma.org/pdf/PRC-12th-FYP.PDF.

  • Zhang, L., and D.Y. Zhang. 2011. Relationship between ecological civilization and balanced population development in China. Energy Procedia 5: 2532–2535.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, W., H.L. Li, and X.B. An. 2011. Ecological civilization construction is the fundamental way to develop low-carbon economy. Energy Procedia 5: 839–843.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Y.Y., S.F. Zhang, X.Y. Zhai, and J. Xia. 2012. Runoff variation in the three rivers source region and its response to climate change. Acta Geographica Sinica 67: 71–82 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, X.Q. 2009. Alpine meadow ecosystem and global change. Beijing: Science Press (in Chinese).

  • Zhao, X.Q., and H.K. Zhou. 2005. Eco-environmental degradation, vegetation regeneration and sustainable development in the headwaters of three rivers on Tibetan Plateau. Bulletin of the Chinese Academy of Sciences 20: 471–476 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, H.K., X.Q. Zhao, C.Y. Zhang, X.F. Xing, B.W. Zhu, and F.C. Du. 2010. The predicament of ecological migrants and sustainable development strategy in the source area of three rivers. China Population Resource Environment 20: 185–188 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work received funding from the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2010CB 951704). We would like to thank William A. McNamara for kindly editing this manuscript. The author also gratefully acknowledges the necessary support by Prof. Ya Tang (Sichuan University) and candidate Ph.D Yanqiang Wei (Institute of Mountain Hazards & Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Mountain Hazards & Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, People’s Republic of China

    Yiping Fang

Authors
  1. Yiping Fang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yiping Fang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fang, Y. Managing the Three-Rivers Headwater Region, China: From Ecological Engineering to Social Engineering. AMBIO 42, 566–576 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-012-0366-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-012-0366-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation