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Can Clean Energy Policy Improve the Quality of Alpine Grassland Ecosystem? A Scenario Analysis to Influence the Energy Changes in the Three-River Headwater Region, China

Author

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  • Yongxun Zhang

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A, Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Qingwen Min

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A, Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China)

  • Guigen Zhao

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A, Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Wenjun Jiao

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A, Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China)

  • Weiwei Liu

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A, Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Dhruba Bijaya G.C.

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A, Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

Abstract

In past decades, ecological services and functions of alpine grassland in the Three-River Headwater Region (TRHR), Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, have been severely degraded due to overgrazing and overuse of yak dung as a fuel. Therefore, the eco-migration project has been implemented by the national government for improving eco-environmental quality in this region. This paper examines the carbon cycle change from clean energy use of households and assesses its influence on the local grassland ecosystem. Based on the data of household fuels from questionnaire surveys and local statistical yearbooks, we have calculated carbon emission and the ecological benefits by using clean energies. The results showed that total carbon in the process from Net Primary Productivity (NPP) of the ecosystem to dung fuel decreases sharply, and carbon emission from dung is approximate 6% of ecosystem NPP. Reducing the use of yak dung as a fuel has no significant influence on carbon emission, but improves the ecological benefits of the grassland ecosystem, because it is a very important part of the ecosystem carbon cycle. With the most abundant solar energy resources in China, the region should make full use of its advantage for improving ecosystem service values of alpine grassland by making more dung returns to grassland. In conclusion, a clean energy policy (CEP) can effectively improve the ecological services and functions of alpine grassland in the TRHR.

Suggested Citation

  • Yongxun Zhang & Qingwen Min & Guigen Zhao & Wenjun Jiao & Weiwei Liu & Dhruba Bijaya G.C., 2016. "Can Clean Energy Policy Improve the Quality of Alpine Grassland Ecosystem? A Scenario Analysis to Influence the Energy Changes in the Three-River Headwater Region, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-14, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:3:p:231-:d:64943
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pan, Tao & Wu, Shaohong & Dai, Erfu & Liu, Yujie, 2013. "Estimating the daily global solar radiation spatial distribution from diurnal temperature ranges over the Tibetan Plateau in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 384-393.
    2. Lo, Yueh-Hsin & Blanco, Juan A. & Canals, Rosa M. & González de Andrés, Ester & San Emeterio, Leticia & Imbert, J. Bosco & Castillo, Federico J., 2015. "Land use change effects on carbon and nitrogen stocks in the Pyrenees during the last 150 years: A modeling approach," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 312(C), pages 322-334.
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    Cited by:

    1. Qingshui Lu & Jicai Ning & Fuyuan Liang & Xiaoli Bi, 2017. "Evaluating the Effects of Government Policy and Drought from 1984 to 2009 on Rangeland in the Three Rivers Source Region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-16, June.
    2. Ying Liang & Wei Song, 2022. "Ecological and Environmental Effects of Land Use and Cover Changes on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau: A Bibliometric Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-23, November.
    3. 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.

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