Mapping and assessment of recreation services in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Abstract

Recreation services are part of “Experiences” in nonmaterial nature's contribution to people (NCP). It is one of the activities most closely linked to natural landscapes and human well-being. Current research methods are mostly point-based, lacking a systematic evaluation at the regional level that integrates climate conditions and recreational resources. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) is a unique environment with traditional culture. However, limited ecological capacity and poor adaptation to the plateau climate can affect the development of recreation services. This research develops an evaluation framework for recreation services (RS) based on landscape aesthetic quality (LAQ), climate suitability (CS) and recreation utilisation (RU). The results showed that most of QTP had a low (27 %) and average (30 %) LAQ. Regarding CS, a very large part of the studied area had a very low (23 %) and low (35 %) values. RU in QTP had a low (38 %) and average (34 %) values. Finally, RS in most QTP area was low (32 %) and average (28 %). The correlations between the three indices (LAQ, CS and RU) and the final model were high and significant (>0.70). Despite the significance, the correlations observed among the indicators were low (<0.45). LAQ and CS were related to the vegetation and temperature zone, and cities with high levels of urbanisation have a high recreation utilisation. From the southeast to the northwest of the QTP, the altitude increases and the level of recreation services decreases. The dominant factor of the northeastern urban landscape is recreation utilisation, and the climate suitability is the southeast tibetan forest landscape. The framework developed a theoretical foundation for recreation planning and management.