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Quantifying Grass Coverage Trends to Identify the Hot Plots of Grassland Degradation in the Tibetan Plateau during 2000–2019

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  • Yaqun Liu

    (Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Changhe Lu

    (Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

Abstract

Grassland covers 54% of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and suffered overgrazing and degradation problems during past decades. To alleviate these problems, a series of policy measures have been implemented during recent two decades and inevitably caused changes of the grassland. To this end, this study quantitatively analyzed the grassland changes and the effects of reduced grazing intensity, and identified the hot plots of grassland degradation in the TP during 2000–2019. The grassland status was indicated by the Fractional Vegetation Cover in the green grass period (GP), i.e., FVC GP , and its changes and spatial variations were detected by analyzing the FVC GP trends and their distribution, using the Mann–Kendal, Sen’s Slope, and ArcGIS buffering methods, and data of the MOD13Q1 Collection 6 products and other sources. The results showed that 62.12% of the grasslands were significantly increased in the FVC GP , and 28.34% had no apparent changes. The remaining 9.54% of the grassland significantly decreased in the FVC GP , mainly occurring in the areas nearby roads, rivers, and lakes, and distributed mostly in a point pattern. Of the total FVC GP decreased grassland area, 27.03% was clustered and identified as the hot plots of grassland degradation in six main regions. Decreased grazing intensity and increased precipitation contributed to the increase of grassland FVC in the TP, while local overgrazing could be the main cause of the FVC decrease. To strength the grassland restoration in the TP, the government supports and supervision should be enhanced to further mitigate the grassland pressure of animal grazing, particularly in the hot plot areas of degradation.

Suggested Citation

  • Yaqun Liu & Changhe Lu, 2021. "Quantifying Grass Coverage Trends to Identify the Hot Plots of Grassland Degradation in the Tibetan Plateau during 2000–2019," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:2:p:416-:d:476193
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    Cited by:

    1. Yaowen Kou & Quanzhi Yuan & Xiangshou Dong & Shujun Li & Wei Deng & Ping Ren, 2023. "Dynamic Response and Adaptation of Grassland Ecosystems in the Three-River Headwaters Region under Changing Environment: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-30, February.
    2. Zemin Zhang & Changhe Lu, 2023. "Spatiotemporal Changes in Frost-Free Season and Its Influence on Spring Wheat Potential Yield on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau from 1978 to 2017," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-13, February.
    3. Huifang Ma & Weidong Chen & Hailin Ma & Hude Yang, 2021. "Influence of Publicity and Education and Environmental Values on the Green Consumption Behavior of Urban Residents in Tibet," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-14, October.

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