The Mountains of Southwest China hotspot stretches from southeast Tibet through western Sichuan and extends into central and northern Yunnan. Running along the border between the Chengdu basin and the Tibetan plateau, the rugged terrain of the hotspot is home to unique biological and cultural diversity. Rapid elevation changes of more than 6,000m between ridge tops and river valleys support a complete spectrum of vegetation types, from tropical, sub-tropical evergreen broadleaf forests at lower altitudes giving way at higher altitudes to deciduous temperate broadleaf forests, mixed broadleaf conifer forest, coniferous sub-alpine forests with a dense bamboo and rhododendron understorey to alpine meadows above the tree line. The tree line in this region can reach 4600m above sea level, among the highest in the world. During the summer months, the Tibetan Plateau acts as a barrier to monsoon winds and the region becomes a cloudy moisture trap, giving the alpine flora lushness found nowhere else. The unique combination of topographic complexity and favorable moisture conditions in the region supports enormous richness of biological diversity and high degrees of endemism, likely the richest botanically in the world's temperate regions. More than 12,000 species of higher plants, of which 29 percent are unique to this hotspot (known as endemic), have been identified, including 230 species of rhododendron. Half of the rhododendrons are endemic in the region. Other endemic plant species include
Kingdonia uniflora and two species of Cycas.
The wildlife in the Mountains of Southwest China hotspot is equally diverse, with more than 300 mammal and 686 bird species documented. The hotspot also holds a large number of special endemics and rare and endangered species, including giant panda, red panda, golden monkey, snow leopard, takin, sika deer, musk deer, white-lipped deer and at least 27 species of pheasant such as Chinese monal and white eared-pheasant. The complex topography of high mountain ridges and deep river valleys creates corridors for migration for bird species such as the black-necked crane. The Metdog County in southeast Tibet is home to the last remaining Bengal tiger population in China. Though it covers only about 10 percent of China's geographical area, the hotspot is home to about 50 percent of the country's birds and mammals and more than 30 percent of its higher plants. Furthermore, 36 of China's 87 endangered terrestrial mammals are found in the region.
This biological diversity is mirrored by great cultural diversity. The region is home to 17 of China's 55 ethnic minority groups, including the Bai, Dulong, Lisu, Naxi, Pumi, Nu, Qiang and Tibetan peoples. Over many generations, each of these cultures has accumulated a vast storehouse of indigenous knowledge of natural resources in this unique environment. The region is also traversed by some of the most important rivers in Asia, including the Bramaputra, Irawaddy, Mekong Salween and Yangtze rivers. Combined, these rivers affect the livelihood of more than half a billion people throughout a downstream area of some 3 million square kilometers.
As of the end of 2001, there were about 60 nature reserves in the region, 31 of which were designated to protect the giant panda. Most of the reserves were established in the past 10 years. The reserves cover nearly 4 percent of the total area of the region, according to the State Forestry Administration.
In an effort to establish scientific consensus on biodiversity conservation priorities for the Upper Yangtze region of China, more than 50 scientists participated in the priority-setting workshop. All three convening organizations (CI, TNC and WWF) recognize the global significance of this region and are implementing conservation programs in the area. The Sichuan Provincial Planning Commission is mandated with economic development of the western region of this important province, and recognizes the importance of sustainable development and conservation of the rich natural resources of Sichuan.
The team of experts assembled for the workshop together represented the best knowledge in each of their taxonomic specialties: mammals, plants, amphibians, reptiles, plants, fungi, insects, and vegetation. The best available species range and geographic maps and databases were made available to the experts throughout the process and served as important reference material, as well as to fill in gaps in expert knowledge. The methodology employed at the workshop facilitated the integration of expert knowledge and systematic conservation planning principles, while making use of several previously unavailable data resources.
With an objective of creating a biodiversity vision for the region, the experts worked to identify the areas that collectively represent the suite of landscapes essential to conserving the region's most biologically important landscapes and endemic and threatened species.
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