Ecosystem dynamics in the ‘Returning Rangeland to Grassland’ programs, China

doi:10.11686/cyxb2015469

Abstract

Abstract: Grassland in arid, semi-arid and alpine areas has experienced severe degradation in recent decades. To enable restoration of grassland vegetation and sustainable development, the Returning Rangeland to Grassland (RRG) program was initiated in 2003. Based on remote sensing images, meteorological data and ground observed data, this study utilized data fusion, ecological model simulation and scaling transformation to construct the regional macro ecosystem structure, ecosystem quality and dynamics in regions hosting RRG programs. Fractional vegetation cover (FVC), leaf area index (LAI) and net primary production (NPP) were utilised to indicate ecosystem quality. We examined the spatiotemporal characteristics of ecological structure and ecosystem quality in regions where the RRG programs were implemented from 2000 to 2010. Additionally, we analyzed ecosystem evolution characteristics and the driving mechanism of ecosystem change.Grassland ecosystems were dominant in the study area. The ecosystem structure was stable, but grassland experienced local change in farmland, wetland and desert. FVC showed a slight increasing trend for grassland; LAI tended to fluctuate but tended to also increase; NPP increased, ranging from 218.23 g C/(m²·a) in 2000, to 226.30 g C/(m²·a) in 2010, a 3.7% increase. Ecological conditions differed spatially; overall there was improvement but with areas of localized deterioration. The integral level of the sub-region was: the degraded grassland region of eastern Inner Mongolia>the riverhead grassland region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau>the degraded grassland region of Xinjiang>the desert grassland region of western Inner Mongolia-Gansu-Ningxia. The spatiotemporal variation of ecosystems was mainly affected by ecological restoration projects, climate change and human activities. The RRG programs restored degraded grassland and promoted natural grassland protection. The warming-wetting trend observed over this time promoted the restoration of vegetation. Human activities such as overexploitation resulted in conversion of grassland into farmland in some areas.

ZHANG Hai-Yan, FAN Jiang-Wen, SHAO Quan-Qin, ZHANG Ya-Xian. Ecosystem dynamics in the ‘Returning Rangeland to Grassland’ programs, China[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2016, 25(4): 1-15.

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