Forest is Forest and Meadows are Meadows

Abstract

Present-day landscapes are shaped by historical forces that combine natural change (generated by climate, geological processes etc.) with anthropogenic change (locally generated in interaction with larger political and economic forces). In the Jiuzhaigou region of Northern Sichuan, humans have shaped landscapes to their needs for at least 3,500 years. In recent centuries, landscape change has probably accelerated, particularly in response to changes in the political economy of the region since the late 19th century. At present, Amdo and Baima Tibetan communities in the region are faced with generally similar but locally differing political and economic pressures, including economic development, tourism, and policies of conservation and reforestation. The communities have reacted to these pressures in diverse ways that produce different landscape outcomes, demonstrating that neither local cultural landscape ideals alone nor policy prescriptions alone can explain current landscape configurations or predict the precise future impact of policies. However, constraints imposed by bureaucratic planning may lead to landscapes with diminished biodiversity and reduced adaptive capacity.