Conservation for the landscape ecological diversity in Wulingyuan scenic area of China

Issue title: Landscape change and human activity — Selected papers from the 2nd International Conference on Landscape Ecology of Asia and Pasific Region, Lanzhou, China, Sept. 22–25, 2001

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Yan, Fu

Affiliations: Zhangjiajie Branch of Jishou University, Zhangjiajie 427000, China

Abstract: Wulingyuan is located at the mountainous area of the middle reach of the Yangtze River, it is one of the three nature heritages in China which ranks in the "List of World's Heritage" by UNESCO. It is characterized by quartz sandstone peaks landform with several landform components (pattern, corridor) and rich in landscape ecological diversity and biodiversity. The main patterns (ecosystem) include mid-height mountain peaks, rift-valley and streams among peaks, peaks and gullies on slopes, square mountain-platforms and peaks among blind valleys and so on. The corridor system consists of natural corridors and artificial corridors among which the stream corridors account for a major part. The fracturing of habitat is unfavorable for the biodiversity conservation, but meanwhile the habitat diversity leads to an increase in biodiversity. Therefore, it is still rich in landscape ecological diversity in Wulingyuan. The biodiversity at the level of landscape component (ecosystem) and the function of the Wulingyuan complex ecosystem, and the measures for the biodiversity conservation in Wulingyuan ecotourism area are discussed in this paper.

Keywords: Wulingyuan, quartz sandstone peaks, landscape ecological diversity

Journal: Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 284-288, 2003