Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Research Articles

Exploring Ecological Quality and Its Driving Factors in Diqing Prefecture, China, Based on Annual Remote Sensing Ecological Index and Multi-Source Data

The interaction between the natural environmental and socioeconomic factors is crucial for assessing the dynamics of plateau ecosystems. Therefore, the remote sensing ecological index (RSEI) and CatBoost-SHAP model were employed to investigate changes in the ecological quality and their driving factors in the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, China, from 2001 to 2021. The results showed an increase from 0.44 in 2001 to 0.71 in 2021 in the average RSEI for the Diqing Prefecture, indicating an overall upward trend in the ecological quality. Spatial analysis shows the percentage of the area covered by different levels of RSEI and their temporal changes. The results revealed that “good” ecological quality accounted for the largest proportion of the study area, at 42.77%, followed by “moderate” at 21.93%, and “excellent” at 16.62%. “Fair” quality areas accounted for 16.11% and “poor” quality areas only 2.57%. The study of ecological and socioeconomic drivers based on the CatBoost-SHAP framework also indicated that natural climate factors have a greater impact on ecological quality than socioeconomic factors; however, this effect differed significantly with altitude. The findings suggest that, in addition to strengthening climate monitoring, further advancements in ecological engineering are required to ensure the sustainable development of the ecosystem and the continuous improvement of the environmental quality in the Diqing Prefecture.

Analysis of soils, grapes, and wines for Sr isotope characterisation in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (China) and combining multiple elements for wine geographical traceability purposes

Determining the origin and authenticity of wine is a matter of rising interest among consumers and industry standards. The strontium isotopic ratio is regarded as an efficient technique for wine tracing. This study presents an assessment of the Sr isotope value in different matrices, including soil, grapes, and wine. Strontium isotopic maps were built using measured data. Diqing soil isotope ratios ranged between 0.714010 and 0.721999, and grape and wine isotope ratios ranged between 0.710029 and 0.718137, and 0.709508 and 0.718372, respectively. A high correlation was found between the Sr isotope ratios between of grapes and wines (R2 = 0.945), and a weak correlation was found between soil and grapes (R2 = 0.187). In general, the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of Diqing wine have a different range from those of wine from other countries. Compared to carbon isotope values, the oxygen isotope values have a wide diversity in wine from different regions. Elemental fingerprinting, light and heavy isotopes combined with discriminant analysis (DA) and random forest (RF) supported a relatively small wine geographical origin more effectively than the isotopes. This study is the first to focus on the Sr isotopes in different matrices (soil, grapes, and wine) from China and provides a data reference for tracing the provenance of wine.

How do livelihood capital affect farmers' energy-saving behaviors: Evidence from China

A better understanding of farmers' energy-saving behaviors can help policy-makers to formulate effective energy policies to reduce energy consumption in rural areas. This study explores the impacts of livelihood capital on farmers' energy-saving behaviors in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, China. A total of 471 questionnaires were obtained from randomly sampled households. The results show that there are differences between the implementation of different types of energy-saving behaviors. Farmers' livelihood capital plays a significant role in implementing energy-saving behaviors. Specifically, natural capital and human capital have a significantly negative effect on the implementation of energy-saving behaviors. Physical capital and social capital are conducive to implement energy-saving behaviors. The effect of financial capital varies with different energy-saving behaviors. The findings of this study can contribute to the existing body of knowledge about determinants of farmers' energy-saving behaviors by confirming the role of livelihood capital. The empirical results provide a reference for stakeholders involved in strengthening rural residents' energy-saving behaviors in developing countries like China.

Investigation of ABO and RhD blood groups in childbearing age people in rural areas of Yunnan Province

The participants in this study were 20-49 years old rural childbearing age people who received the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project (NFPHEP) in Yunnan Province during 2013 to 2019. The proportion of ABO and RhD blood groups among different ethnic groups and different areas were calculated. The proportion of 2 748 131 participants with blood group A phenotype was highest (32.60%), followed by O (30.60%), B (27.33%) and AB (9.47%). In the RhD blood system, the proportion of the RhD positivity (RhD+) and RhD negativity (RhD-) group were 99.29% and 0.71% respectively. The proportions blood groups were significantly different among ethnic groups and areas (all P<0.001). Among 18 ethnic groups with more than 3 000 participants, Yao (42.75%), Bouyei (40.58%) and Dai (40.37%) ethnic groups had higher proportion of blood group O phenotype than other ethnic groups. Wa ethnic groups had highest proportion of the A (40.15%) and AB phenotypes (11.23%). Miao ethnic group (34.70%) and Lahu ethnic group (34.42%) had higher proportion of blood group B phenotype than other ethnic groups. Wa ethnic group had the highest proportion of RhD-group (1.88%). In all 16 prefectures of Yunnan, the proportion of blood group O phenotype was highest in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture (40.27%). Baoshan city (36.39%), Lincang city (36.22%) and Dali Bai autonomous prefecture (36.06%) had higher proportion of blood group A phenotype than other regions. Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (30.83%) and Qujing city (30.48%) had higher proportion of blood group B phenotype than other areas, while Zhaotong city had a highest proportion of blood group AB phenotype (11.19%). The proportion of RhD-group was highest in Honghe hani and Yi nationality autonomous prefecture(1.37%). The A RhD+(39.36%), A RhD-(0.78%), AB RhD+(11.03%), AB RhD-(0.20%) and O RhD-(0.48%) blood groups were higher proportion in Wa ethnic group than in other ethnic groups (P<0.001).

Dyadobacter diqingensis sp. nov., isolated from Baima snow mountain of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan province, south-west China.

A Gram-negative, aerobic, nonmotile, rod-shaped and yellow-pigment-producing bacteria was isolated from Baima snow mountain of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan province, south-west China and characterized using a polyphasic approach. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity analysis showed that strain YIM B04101T was closely related to the type strain of Dyadobacter koreensis DSM 19938T (97.81%) and Dyadobacter frigoris AR-3-8T (97.95%). The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7 (MK-7). The major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c/C16:1ω6c), C18:1ω9c and C16:0. The DNA G + C content was 43.5mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the strain YIM B04101T belonged to a cluster comprising species of the genus Dyadobacter. However, it differed from its closest relative, Dyadobacter koreensis KCTC 12537T and Dyadobacter frigoris AR-3-8T, in many physiological properties. Based on these phenotypic characteristics and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain YIM B04101T is considered to be a novel species of the genus Dyadobacter, for which the name Dyadobacter diqingensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM B04101T (= CGMCC 1.19249T= CCTCC AB 2021270).

Searching for Shangrila: Existential Authenticity, Buddhist Revival, and Ethnic Empowerment on the Sino-Tibetan Frontier

In 2001, the county of Zhongdian in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province, was renamed Shangrila, after the monastery described in James Hilton’s 1933 novel, Lost Horizon, and in allusion to the mythical Tibetan kingdom of Shambhala. Thereafter, work began on constructing the region as an easily accessible showcase for Tibetan culture. Based on fieldwork conducted in the Shangrila Thangka Academy, this article deals with the production and commodification of Tibetan Thangka scrolls. The multiple narratives presented in this article, in parallel and sometimes contradictory ways, center around authenticity—ranging from the preservation of Tibetan culture to the propagation of Tibetan Buddhism—and function as a cultural critique of Chinese society in the reform era.

Two new species of Amphinemurinae (Plecoptera; Nemouridae) from Yunnan Province, China.

Two new species of Nemouridae stoneflies, Amphinemura oblonga Rehman, Du Zhao sp. nov. and Mesonemoura diqinga Rehman, Du Zhao sp. nov., are described from China (Yunnan Province, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Shangri-la city, Gezan township, Langdu Village). Diagnosis, description of terminalia, illustration of terminalia appendages and terminalia similarities with closely related species are provided and discussed.

Comparison of pulse oxygen saturation/fraction of inhaled oxygen and arterial partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inhaled oxygen in the assessment of oxygenation in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients at different high altitudes in Yunnan Province

To investigate and evaluate if pulse oxygen saturation/fraction of inhaled oxygen (SpO2/FiO2) can be used, as replacement of arterial partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inhaled oxygen (PaO2/FiO2), to assess oxygenation in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients at different high altitudes in Yunnan Province, and to find a rapid and non-invasive method for the diagnosis of ARDS at different altitudes. Patients with ARDS at different high altitudes in Yunnan Province from January 2019 to December 2020 were enrolled. The patients were divided into three groups according to different altitudes, and received different oxygen therapies according to their respective medical conditions. Group 1 consisted of patients with moderate to severe ARDS from the department of critical care medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (average altitude approximately 1 800 m), and received mechanical ventilation to maintain SpO2 of 0.90-0.96 with a low FiO2 for more than 30 minutes, and SpO2, FiO2, PaO2 were recorded. Group 2 consisted of patients with moderate to severe ARDS at the department of critical care medicine of People's Hospital of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (mean altitude about 3 200 m), and received oxygen with an attached reservoir mask to maintain SpO2 of 0.90-0.96 for 10 minutes, and then SpO2, FiO2, and PaO2 were recorded. Group 3 consisted of patients with mild to moderate-severe ARDS who admitted to the emergency department of the People's Hospital of Lijiang (average altitude approximately 2 200 m); when SpO2 < 0.90, patients received oxygen with the oxygen storage mask, and the FiO2 required to maintain SpO2 ≥ 0.90 was recorded, and SpO2, FiO2, PaO2 were recorded after oxygen inhalation for 10 minutes. Spearman coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between SpO2/FiO2 and PaO2/FiO2 in each group. Linear analysis was used to derive the linear equation between SpO2/FiO2 and PaO2/FiO2, and to evaluate arterial pH, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), FiO2, tidal volume (VT), positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and other related factors which would change the correlation between SpO2/FiO2 and PaO2/FiO2. The receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was plotted to calculate the sensitivity and specificity of using SpO2/FiO2 instead of PaO2/FiO2 to assess oxygenation of ARDS patients. Group 1 consisted of 24 ARDS patients from whom 271 blood gas analysis results were collected; group 2 consisted of 14 ARDS patients from whom a total of 47 blood gas analysis results were collected; group 3 consisted of 76 ARDS patients, and a total of 76 blood gas analysis results were collected. The PaO2/FiO2 (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) in groups 1, 2 and 3 were 103 (79, 130), 168 (98, 195) and 232 (146, 271) respectively, while SpO2/FiO2 were 157 (128, 190), 419 (190, 445) and 319 (228, 446) respectively. Among the three groups, patients in group 1 had the lowest PaO2/FiO2 and SpO2/FiO2, while patients in group 3 had the highest. Spearman correlation analysis showed that PaO2/FiO2 was highly correlated with SpO2/FiO2 in groups 1, 2 and 3 (r values were 0.830, 0.951, 0.828, all P < 0.05). Regression equation was fitted according to linear analysis: in group 1 SpO2/FiO2 = 58+0.97×PaO2/FiO2 (R2 = 0.548, P < 0.001); in group 2 SpO2/FiO2 = 6+2.13×PaO2/FiO2 (R2 = 0.938, P < 0.001); in group 3 SpO2/FiO2 = 53+1.33×PaO2/FiO2 (R2 = 0.828, P < 0.001). Further analysis revealed that PEEP, FiO2, and arterial blood pH could affect the correlation between SpO2/FiO2 and PaO2/FiO2. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under ROC curve (AUC) was 0.848 and 0.916 in group 1 with moderate to severe ARDS; based on the regression equation, the corresponding SpO2/FiO2 cut-off values at a PaO2/FiO2 of 100 mmHg and 200 mmHg were 155, 252 with a sensitivity of 84.9% and 100%, specificity of 87.2% and 70.6%, respectively. Patients with moderate to severe ARDS in group 2 (AUC was 0.945 and 0.977), the corresponding SpO2/FiO2 cut-off values at PaO2/FiO2 of 100 mmHg and 200 mmHg were 219 and 432 with the sensitivity of 100% and 85.2%, specificity of 82.5% and 100%, respectively. Patients with mild to moderate-severe ARDS in group 3 (AUC was 0.903 and 0.936), the corresponding SpO2/FiO2 cut-off values at a PaO2/FiO2 of 200 mmHg and 300 mmHg were 319 and 452 with the sensitivity of 100% and 100%, specificity of 80.9% and 86.2%, respectively. SpO2/FiO2 and PaO2/FiO2 in ARDS patients at different high altitudes in Yunnan Province have a good correlation, and non-invasive SpO2/FiO2 can be used to replace PaO2/FiO2 to assess the oxygenation in ARDS patients.

Blood gas analysis of healthy people in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province

To investigate the reference value of blood gas analysis and related factors in healthy adults in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province. From August 24, 2018 to August 11, 2020, healthy people between the ages of 18 and 70 years were observed at the Physical Examination Center of People's Hospital of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan province. Participant information and clinical characteristics were collected. Blood gas analyzer was used to measure PH value, arterial partial oxygen pressure (PaO2), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), acidity (pH), actual bicarbonate (AB) and residual base (BE). The participants' basic and blood gas indicator data were analyzed, and the blood gas reference values and related factors were analyzed using chi-squared tests, Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon Test, and Spearman's correlation analysis. A total of 1,218 eligible health examination participants were included. They had an average age of 40 [31-47] years, and males accounted for 51.0%. In terms of blood gas reference values, the average pH value was moderate, and the values of PaO2, SaO2, PaCO2, AB, and BE were low. PaO2 was basically matched with the estimated value of the domestic model formula. These indexes were found to be correlated with social demographic characteristics such as sex, age, and smoking history. The correlations between the indexes and social demographic characteristics may be helpful in the prediction of blood gas analysis results in clinical practice. For men, middle-aged and elderly people, or adults with a history of active smoking/biofuel exposure, blood gas PaO2 and PaCO2 should be monitored to facilitate the early intervention of respiratory failure. The PaO2 data basically matched the estimated values of the domestic model formula, suggesting that other regions in the Prefecture could use comprehensive epidemiological data and model methods to guide clinical work.

Did Government Expenditure on the Grain for Green Project Help the Forest Carbon Sequestration Increase in Yunnan, China?

Reasonably assessing the effectiveness of government expenditure on the Grain for Green project (GFG) in providing forest carbon sequestration would contribute to the development of China’s forest carbon sequestration. Using the government expenditure data from the GFG in Yunnan Province from 2001 to 2015 and the MODIS Land Cover Type (MCD12Q1) time-series datasets, we calculated the forest carbon sequestration of various counties (cities or districts). The impacts of GFG government expenditure on forest carbon sequestration were empirically evaluated by the least squares dummy variables method (LSDV). The research results indicate that a 1% increase in government expenditure on the GFG yielded a 0.0364% increase in forest carbon sequestration. However, the effects of GFG government expenditure on forest carbon sequestration differed greatly in different areas because of the diversity of the natural environments, forest resource endowment, and government policies. If the initial forest endowment was not considered, the effectiveness of government expenditure on the GFG in providing forest carbon sequestration would have been overestimated. This study argues that, to improve the efficiency of GFG government expenditure in Yunnan Province, more investment should be made in regions with positive regression coefficients that have passed the significance t-test, such as Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the northwest, Baoshan City in the west, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture in the south, and Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in the east.

Response to neotypification of Paecilomyceshepiali (Hypocreales) (Wang &amp; al., 2015)

AbstractPaecilomyces hepiali is a species of fungus isolated from a field collection of natural Cordyceps sinensis insect–fungi complex from the Baima Snow Mountains, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. A dried culture of living strain 82–2 was designated as the holotype and deposited in the Herbarium of the Institute of Chinese Materia Medica (HICMM), China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing. In 2015 a neotype was designated for P. hepiali based on the presumption that the holotype was unavailable for study. We show that the holotype is extant and available, and thus the neotypification is overturned.

Harvest and trade of caterpillar mushroom (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) and the implications for sustainable use in the Tibet Region of Southwest China

Ethnopharmacological relevanceCaterpillar mushroom (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) is a unique medicinal fungi which is only found in alpine grasslands in Himalayan mountain regions and the Tibetan Plateau. Known locally as Yartsa Gunbu, it has been widely used in Tibetan and Chinese Medicine for centuries. It is crucial to understand local commercial harvest and trade practices of caterpillar mushroom to support the sustainable management of this valuable resource. However, data derived from empirically grounded research is currently limited, particularly in China. Aim of this studyThe research aims to provide the most up-to-date insights into caterpillar mushroom harvest and trade in the main production area of the Tibet Region in Southwest China and to generate policy recommendations for sustainable use. Materials and methodsThe research was conducted in 2015–2016 in six Tibetan communities located in two counties in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Southwest China. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from in-depth interviews with local households engaged in caterpillar mushroom harvesting (n = 157), local caterpillar mushroom traders (n = 14), and from focus groups discussions (n = 5) with regional caterpillar mushroom industry stakeholders. ResultsThe research found large regional- and community-level differences in caterpillar mushroom harvest practices. The harvest practices of communities involved in the co-management of a Nature Reserve were more sustainable than those communities not involved in such a scheme, and this was due to the external support and training provided via the co-management scheme. Moreover, a customary tenure system was proving effective for avoiding competition over caterpillar mushroom collection. However, in both counties, narrow marketing channel and non-grading system in trade limits the possibility of improving the local benefits generated from the commercial harvest of caterpillar mushroom. Meanwhile, the local traders play an important bridging role in the value chain and generate greater benefits from product grading. ConclusionTo support the sustainable management of the caterpillar mushroom industry in Southwest China, the prefectural governments should invest in training on appropriate harvesting techniques and the dissemination of market information. It is also critical that prefectural governments recognize and support the customary tenure system of mushroom collection to avoid competition between collectors.

Exploration on the Spatial Assembling Pattern of Contemporary Rural Settlements Based on GIS --- Taking Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture as an Example

Rural settlements of China are in the era of rapid information development, experiencing revolutionary changes and cultural breakthroughs. This article takes the main rural settlements in Diqing as examples and uses GIS technology as the main method, analyses spatial distribution and assembling characteristics of rural settlements. Based on this, the article extracts the spatial assembling pattern of Diqing rural settlements. Take the topography, rivers, roads and other factors, this article analyzes the causes of the spatial distribution pattern of contemporary rural settlements. The article argues that it has a great theoretical and practical significance to study the spatial pattern of rural settlements, and points out the necessity of using modern GIS technology in the rural settlement research. This method cannot be only maximum the precise analytical ability of contemporary traditional rural settlement space, but also better serve the adjustment, control and optimization design of contemporary settlements.

Discussion on related problems of model species of fungus： Paecilomyces hepialid

Paecilomyces hepiali is a new species of fungus isolated from a field collection of Ophiocordyceps sinensis from Baima snow mountain, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province by the Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. The specimen was identified and named as Paecilomyces hepiali by Qing-Tao Chen, the professor of the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Paecilomyces hepiali) (2008), who identified a dried culture of living strain 82-2 as the holotype. Until now, the holotype (the voucher specimen) was deposited in the Herbarium of the Institute of Chinese Materia Medica (HICMM), China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing. The P. hepiali neotype designated by the paper "Neotypification of P. hepiali (Hypocreales)" published in TAXON 64 (1) by Yao Yi-Jian et al. in February 2015 is untenable.

The Irreducible Ethics in Reflexivity: Rethinking Reflexivity in Conducting Ethnography in Shangri-La, Southwest China

Because this research started in Shangri-La County in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Southwest China, I have had different people in different occasions ask me similar questions: Are you a Han or a Tibetan? Why do you want to do research in Shangri-La? These are indeed common questions to start with if one is studying a place and people that are different from one's own "origins." However, if we take such questions seriously and look deeper, we can see that they are not only posed on the condition of knowledge or assumptions, but also posed as a concern and sometimes curiosity on how the researcher may reflect upon her research as a political action and deal with relations with other people, especially in a situation that research seems to be institutionalized and the researcher appears to have more influence and power. In this article, I attempt to look into the contents and contexts of the recent "reflexive calls" in tourism studies and social research in general. Through critically questioning what "reflexivity" is and what context it has been applied, I argue that both the researcher and the researched subjects are a mixture of "selves," and they both go through the process of interpreting information and thus always attempt to negotiate with their surroundings. Therefore, I argue that we must rethink the current normalized ideas of "reflexivity" in social research, to examine/self-examine the researcher's intention or actual capacity to practice "reflexivity." Hence, the ethical way for me to follow in this research is to not claim myself being "reflexive," rather to act on it.

An integrated approach for water scarcity evaluation—a case study of Yunnan, China

An integrated approach based on multiple indicators and individual and combinational evaluation methods is proposed to evaluate water scarcity. Four evaluation methods are employed, and their results are joined through three combination methods in order to obtain a consistent evaluation. This iterative-correction approach has been applied to Yunnan Province in China for water scarcity evaluation. The results demonstrate the capability of the iterative-correction framework to provide insightful analyses of water scarcity. Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (Diqing) and Nujiang Li Autonomous Prefecture (Nujiang) ranked 1st and 2nd, indicating the best situation for water scarcity evaluation, while Yuxi and Zhaotong ranked 15th and 16th, indicating the worst situation. Two types of major water scarcities were observed in Yunnan Province. One was a typical representative of lack of water quality in the central part of Yunnan, and the other was a typical engineering type in the western part of Yunnan. The water scarcity has been found to arise from non-judicious water use, rapid urbanization and lack of protective measures for water resources. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct more water conservancy projects in future to alleviate the water scarcity issue.

Potential distribution of Rhodiola crenulata in Tibetan Plateau based on Maxent model

Wildlife tending and artificial cultivation is an important way to protect the wild resources of Rhodiola crenulata. It is a study hotspot at present. The distribution information of R. crenulata was collected by query data and field survey, the ecological suitability regionalization was conducted based on maximum entropy model combine with ecological factors, including climate, soil and altitude. To provide the reference for production layout, suitable planting area and the selection of artificial planting base by studying the ecological suitability regionalization of R. crenulata. The potential distribution areas mainly concentrated in the easen Tibet, western Sichuan, southern Qinghai, and Gansu Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. There were 5 major environmental factors to have obvious influence on ecology suitability distributions of R. crenulata, including altitude (contribution rate of 61.8%), precipitation of warmest quarter (contribution rate of 19%), the coefficient of variation of precipitation seasonality (contribution rate of 4.7%), the SD of temperature seasonality (contribution rate of 4%), mean temperature of driest quarter (contribution rate of 2.5%). The AUCs of ROC curve were both above 0.9, indicating that the predictive results with the Maxent model were highly precise. The study of the ecological suitability regionalization of R. crenulata based on Maxent can provide a scientific basis for the selection of artificial planting base.

‘Green Tibetans’ in China: Tibetan geopiety and environmental protection in a multilayered Tibetan landscape

This article examines how certain Tibetans and Han Chinese converts to Tibetan Buddhism in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and Beijing are articulating various forms of environmental discourse, both in terms drawn from Tibetan ‘geopiety’, and/or from a Western model of environmental protection. In relation to these trends, I further explore how certain Tibetans are articulating their understanding of Tibetan Buddhism within an apparently localised context, while other Tibetans are more obviously appropriating from discourses originating in the West and/or wider Chinese society to become more ‘modern’, while at the same time retaining a conceptualisation of Tibetan Buddhism that is hybridised between traditional and modernist understandings. I also explore how some Han practitioners may seek to become more ‘Tibetan’ by endorsing localised forms of Tibetan Buddhism and/or ‘performing’ certain Tibetan modes of religiosity, while others, due in part to geographical distance from the Tibetan landscape and cultural context, endorse an understanding of Tibetan Buddhism which is more closely tied to discourses of environmental protection originating in the West. In both Tibetan and Han Chinese cases, informants reflect upon their own beliefs and identity by gazing at the Other (Tibetan, Han, or Westerner), and marking out differences and similarities between Self and Other.

Potential Distribution Prediction and Suitability Evaluation of Fritillaria cirrhosa D.Don based on Maxent Modeling and GIS

Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don( Liliaceae,Fritillaria L.) is a perennial herb possessing important medicinal properties in its dried bulbs. However,exhaustion of the wild resources of this species was seriously occurred in recent years. In this study,potential distribution prediction and suitability evaluation of F. cirrhosa were conducted and the main influential environmental factors were determined using 108 geographic occurrence records and 16 environmental variables based on Maxent modeling and GIS(ArcGIS 9. 3). Our results showed that the potential distribution area of F. cirrhosa was mainly located in the southwest of Sichuan province,the northwest of Yunnan province and the southeast of Tibet. F. cirrhosa was also fragmentally distributed in the northwest of Guizhou province and the southwest of Gansu province. Within these areas,Sichuan(Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture and Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture), Yunnan( Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture,Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture and Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture),Tibet(the districts of Nyingchi,Shannan and Xigaze) were determined as the largest highly potential distribution areas( suitability index 0. 5). The Maxent modeling showed that isothermality( contribution percent,20. 2%),annual average precipitation( 16. 6%),altitude( 14. 3%),standard deviation of temperature seasonal change(14. 2%),minimum temperature of January(10. 9%) and soil pH(7. 9%) were the main influential environmental factors that affecting the distribution of F. cirrhosa. Further analysis of nicheparameters demonstrated that F. cirrhosa prefers to grow in plateau areas with low annual range of temperature and high daily range of temperature and its suitable habitat requirements were altitude around 2 500- 3 500 m,annual average precipitation around 850- 905 mm,minimum temperature of January around- 3. 5- 4. 7℃ and faintly acid soil(pH around 6. 66). The above results will provide valuable references for the wildlife tending,the plantation regionalization,and the standard cultivation of F. cirrhosa.

Regional-scale analysis on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in sustainable development of Shangri-La County

Shangri-La County is one of the three counties in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (DTAP), Yunnan Province, China, where rich natural resources intersect with tremendous ethnic, cultural, religious, and lingual diversities. Its sustainable development depends on the sustainability of the entire DTAP. Therefore, it is important to analyze the factors that influence DTAP’s sustainable development. In this paper, we evaluated the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats involved in the sustainable development of DTAP. The results show that economic development of Shangri-La County is determined mainly with comprehensive development of tourism, and beautiful natural scenery and rich ethnic cultures are the critical drivers of tourism development in the county. Vigorously, development that integrates tourism and combines with concerns over sustainability and conservation of ethnic cultures is the best approach to sustainable development of Shangri-La County. To assure the success of this approach, we proposed a number of strategic measures, such as promoting the development of ecotourism and protection of ethnic culture.