RANGELANDS AND GRASSLANDS IN THE TIBETAN PLATEAU OF CHINA: ECOLOGICAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD

This chapter presents a comprehensive examination of the situation on the Tibetan Plateau in the light of rural development in the past and the planned development in the future. The Plateau is likely to be affected by the “One Belt, One road” initiative that plans a new Silk Road linking China with Europe and Africa via Central Asia. Emphasis is on ecological structure and function. Rangelands are the core part of the revival of the Silk Road as they have given rise to several civilizations over the past 2000 years and have supported the revival of the ‘Silk Road’ in three aspects. Firstly, the development of ecological awareness drove rangeland and farming civilizations, as production and water security systems originated in the rangeland. At the same time, the rangeland was the barrier of wind and sand into Eurasian inland. Secondly, the Silk Road was always the center of human civilization development, and production from the rangeland supported the development. Thirdly, development of civilization and culture were always integrated.