和政动物群自然遗产价值分析

Analysis of the Natural Heritage Value of Hezheng Fauna

和政动物群主要产自甘肃省东南部临夏盆地新近纪红土层和第四纪地层中,由老至新产出巨犀动物群、铲齿象动物群、三趾马动物群和真马动物群4个哺乳动物群,代表了青藏高原隆升过程中随着环境气候的变化动物群面貌发生的显著更替,完美揭示了在构造变动背景下气候与环境的变化及其与生物的协同演化关系。和政动物群化石赋存地层发育连续、完整,产出的化石数量巨大,形态完整且丰富,全球罕见,不仅在研究新生代哺乳动物演化、青藏高原隆升,以及古环境、古气候、古地理变迁等方面具有极高的科研价值,同时具有科普教育价值、文旅价值和美学价值,而且是地球历史过程中反映高原隆升-环境气候变化-生物演化协同发展的典型例证,具有自然遗产的突出普遍价值,为珍贵的化石类自然遗产。此外,和政地区的合理开发及保护,对于推动地方生态文明建设,助力文旅产业发展及经济发展等方面具有重要意义。

The Hezheng Fauna originating from the Neogene laterite layer and Quaternary strata of the Linxia Basin in southeastern Gansu Province,comprises four successive mammalian assemblages:the Paraceratherium Fauna,the Platybelodon Fauna,the Hipparion Fauna and the Equus Fauna.These assemblages reflect the notable shifts in faunal composition in response to the changes of environment and climate during the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.They offer a unique window into the co-evolutionary dynamics between climate,environment,and organisms under the background of tectonic change.The stratigraphic layers yielding Hezheng fossil are continuous and well-preserved,with an extensive and diverse array of fossils that are rare on the global scale.It not only has important scientific research value that sheds light on Cenozoic mammalian evolution,the geological uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,and the shifts in paleoenvironment,paleoclimate,paleogeography,but also holds value for science education,cultural tourism and aesthetics.The Hezheng Fauna is a typical example of the synergistic development of plateau uplift,climate change and biological evolution within the earth’s history,thereby processing the outstanding universal value characteristic of a world natural heritage.In addition,the judicious development and protection of the Hezheng region is of great significance for fostering local ecological civilization,bolstering the development of cultural tourism industry,and stimulating economic growth.