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Environmental Conservation in the Tibetan Plateau Region: Lessons for China’s Belt and Road Initiative in the Mountains of Central Asia

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  • J. Marc Foggin

    (Mountain Societies Research Institute, University of Central Asia, Bishkek 720001, Kyrgyzstan
    Institute of Asian Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2, Canada)

Abstract

Environmental conservation has developed significantly in China over the past 20 years, including more collaborative approaches and recent advances in establishing a national parks system. This study reviews the development of protected areas in the headwaters of the Yangtze River, drawing lessons from experiences of community development and co-management approaches. Community engagement and participation in developing localized plans for natural resource utilization and conservation have been critical features of successful ventures. Government programs and policies, the emergence of grassroots civil society, and the development of herders’ cooperatives and protected areas, are all tracked, each pointing towards the significant value of inclusive biodiversity conservation approaches for meeting broadly agreed development agendas, such as achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Observations from the vast, high, arid, and semi-arid lands of the Tibetan Plateau are then considered in light of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which is bringing vast financial and technical resources to the world. Special attention is given to applying the lessons that have been learned in China to the mountains of Central Asia, globally recognized as a biodiversity hotspot and a water tower for large downstream populations. Keeping local people at the heart of conservation is deemed fundamentally important.

Suggested Citation

  • J. Marc Foggin, 2018. "Environmental Conservation in the Tibetan Plateau Region: Lessons for China’s Belt and Road Initiative in the Mountains of Central Asia," Land, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-34, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:7:y:2018:i:2:p:52-:d:141653
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Wang, Xueqin & Wong, Yiik Diew & Yuen, Kum Fai & Li, Kevin X., 2020. "Environmental governance of transportation infrastructure under Belt and Road Initiative: A unified framework," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 189-199.
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    4. Chunbo Huang & Yi Qin & Xixi Du & Jiawen He & Xin Fan, 2022. "Ecosystem Health and Environmental Geography in the Belt and Road Regions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-21, May.
    5. Meng Li & Linsheng Zhong & Hu Yu & Jingwen Wang & Xin Zheng & Bin Zhang, 2024. "Assessment of the Synergistic Development Status of Nature-Based Tourism in the National Parks Agglomeration of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-21, December.
    6. Li, Shicheng & Zhang, Heng & Zhou, Xuewu & Yu, Haibin & Li, Wangjun, 2020. "Enhancing protected areas for biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    7. Wajid Rashid & Jianbin Shi & Inam ur Rahim & Muhammad Qasim & Muhammad Naveed Baloch & Eve Bohnett & Fangyuan Yang & Imran Khan & Bilal Ahmad, 2021. "Modelling Potential Distribution of Snow Leopards in Pamir, Northern Pakistan: Implications for Human–Snow Leopard Conflicts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-14, November.
    8. Muhammad Muddassar Khan & Muhammad Siddique & Muhammad Yasir & Muhammad Imran Qureshi & Nohman Khan & Muhammad Zulqarnain Safdar, 2022. "The Significance of Digital Marketing in Shaping Ecotourism Behaviour through Destination Image," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-18, June.

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