POPULATION AND CONSERVATION OF BLACK CRESTED GIBBONS ( Hylobates concolor jingdongensis ) IN WULIANG NATURE RESERVE,JINGDONG,YUNNAN

Population estimates of black crested gibbons in Wuliang Nature Reserve,Jingdong,Yunnan,China,with two techniques,average group density total area and average home rang forest coverage,produced quite similar results.The population was estimated around 115 groups in the Reserve.The paper also discussed the conservation problems of the Reserve.At present,the main threat to the gibbons is habitat fragmentation and population isolation.Thus,it is urgent to prohibit hunting and protect the habitat and forest corridors or habitat bridges.

Distribution of the Ibex (Capra ibex) in Tomur National Nature Reserve of Xinjiang, China

lbex （Capra ibex）, a first grade protected animal, has not been well studied in China. Surveys were conducted to investigate the distribution of the ibex in the Tomur National Nature Reserve during October--November 2004, July 2005, and October-December 2005. The results were as follows： （1） Out of five valleys, the ibex was distributed in the Qiong-Tailan, Keqik-Tailan, and Muzart Valleys： （2） Ibexes were not observed in the Tomur Valley and Kuzbayi Valley in our surveys, but interview investigations indicated that they may be found here as well. Our results indicated that the nature reserve as a whole is in the distribution range of ibex and it plays an important role in protecting ibex and the alpine biodiversity. However, the uneven distribution pattern can be due to human activities. Therefore, the management of the reserve needs to be improved in the future.

Habitat selection of Guizhou golden monkey (Phinopithecus rox-ellanae brelichi) in Fanjing Mountain Biosphere Reserve, China

Guizhou golden monkey (Phinopithecus roxellanae brelichi) is a peculiar, rare and endangered species. It is dis-tributed most narrowly and requires a rigorous habitat. In this study the habitats of Guizhou Golden Monkey were divided into three habitats: most suitable habitats, suitable habitats and marginally suitable habitats. The characteristics of the vegetation community, environmental factors and extreme environmental factors in the three habitats were systematically analyzed. The seasonal activity rule, activity area and the food characteristic of Guizhou golden monkey were also study at the same time. The results indicate that the evergreen and deciduous broadleaf mixed forest is the optimal living vegetation community for Guizhou golden Monkey, and the suitable annual temperature is 8-15 C, the extremely lowest temperature is 2.5 C, the extremely highest temperature is 25 C, and the optimal living altitude is 1500-1700 m. In the same area, the higher the vegetation diversity, the more suitable it is for the life of Guizhou golden monkey. Temperature and food are the main habitat factors in determining the activity scope of the guizhou golden monkey community. The Altitude, temperature and the characteristics of the vegetation community are the main limiting factors for habitat selection.

Measurement of Water Content in Different Organs of Phyllostachys pubescens

The height growth of bamboo in 2008 and 2009 as well as the water contents of bamboo stump,leaves,straw,and rhizome in 2009 were measured at the Tianmu Mountain Nature Reserve.The results revealed that the relationship between the height growth（Pn）and growth time（t）showed S-shaped curve in the two years;the water contents of bamboo stump,leaf,straw,rhizome and bamboo shoot were 0.50-2.31,0.46-1.8,0.50-1.38,0.56-1.58 and 0.89-8.96,respectively.Among them,the water content of bamboo shoot was the highest and noticeable changed,followed by bamboo stump,leaves,rhizome and straw in order.The water contents of the underground and aboveground parts respectively were 0.34-0.62 and 0.33-0.57.

抓住西部大开发机遇积极利用外国政府贷款

政府贷款是发达国家或富裕国家政府在双边财政合作的形式下，向发展中国家提供的援助性长期优惠贷款。我国利用外国政府贷款始于1979年，到1998年9月底，贷款累计协议额约428．9亿美元，实际利用贷款总额为368．15亿美元，已偿还贷款本息金额50．21亿美元，贷款余额为341．99亿美元。目前共有22个国家和2个金融机构领域集中在基础设施、社会发展和环境保护等领域。利用外国政府贷款，弥补了我国建设资金的不足，引进了国外先进技术和设备，促进了我国与贷款国双边贸易的发展，对我国改革开放和现代化建设事业发挥了积极的作用。

Problems and relevant strategies on natural forest protection in Changbai Mountain forest area

Changbai Mountain forest area is not only is a national timber base but also a green ecological defense for Songliao Plain of NE China. The Natural Forest Protection Project of this area has an important bearing on the social and economic sustainable development of Jilin Province or even the whole forest area in NE China. This paper summarized general conditions of natural forest in Changbai Mountain state-owned forest area and put forward six problems need to be urgently solved and five strategic suggestions on natural forest protection and sustainable management.

Identification of Taxus cuspidata Sieb.et Zucc endophytic fungi─ new recorded-genus-species of China and the metabolite

A total of 94 isolates of endophytic fungi were isolated from the bark of 200-yr.-old Taxus cuspidata Sieb. et Zucc. in the primeval forest of the Changbai Mountain Natural Reserve, and 19 species of endophytic fungi were identified. Among the taxa 2 new species and 1 new varied species as well as the 6 known species of China had been described in a previous article published on Journal of Forestry Research, Vol. 14 (4): 290-294 (2003). This paper made a detail description on the morpho-logical characteristics of the 9 new recorded-genus-species and 1 new record species with illustrations, including Staphy-lotrichum coccosporum Meyer et Nicot, Botryodema lateritium Papendoorf & Upadhyay, Oedocephalum glomerulosum (Rul-liard) Sacc., Trichosporonoides oedocephalis Haskins & Spencer, Beniowskia sphaeroidea (Kal Chbrenner et Caeke) Mason, Thermomyces verrucosus Pugh, Blakeman & Morgan-jones, Gilmaniella humicola Brron , Arthrinium sphaerosperma (Per.:Fr.) Ellis, Ambrosiella brunnea (Verrall) Batra, and Cytosporina notha Diedz (1 new record species). And the habitats, hosts, distribu-tions and fruiting periods were recorded for the new recorded-genus-species. The determination result of thin layer chroma-tography (TLC) showed that the liquid fermentation metabolites of the strains could not react positively with taxoids developer - the vanillic aldehyde and dilute bismuth potassium iodide.

Research on Water Resources Conservation of Mountain River Based on the Concept of Region Partition

Presently concepts and methods related to water resources conservation of mountain rivers are seriously insufficient,and its level is far from being adaptable to the development of a harmonious society.As mountain ecosystems play a key role in water resources conservation of mountain rivers,and the characteristics of mountain ecosystems and hydrologic features of mountain river follow strong temporal and spatial distribution,partition theory can be applied to the water resources conservation of mountain river.This theory observes the following partition principles:regional relativity,spatial continuity,integralcounty,meeting management needs,hierarchical principle,and comparability principle.And it lays equal emphasis on both water resources conservation and environmental protection,on both water quality conservation and water quantity protection,on the combination of water features,water cycle and water pollution.In the partition methods,index method and map superposition method will be applied in region partition.The example of region partition of water resources conservation in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River shows that the partition theory is practicable in water resources conservation of mountain rivers,and it provides a platform for future study in water resources conservation.

Silicon’s organic pool and biological cycle in moso bamboo community of Wuyishan Biosphere Reserve

Biomineralization of Si by plants into phytolith formation and precipitation of Si into clays during weathering are two important processes of silicon’s biogeochemical cycle. As a silicon-accumulating plant, the widely distributed and woody Phyl-lostachys heterocycla var. pubescens (moso bamboo) contributes to storing silicon by biomineralization and, thus, prevents eu-trophication of nearby waterbodies through silicon’s erosion of soil particles. A study on the organic pool and biological cycle of silicon (Si) of the moso bamboo community was conducted in Wuyishan Biosphere Reserve, China. The results showed that: (1) the standing crop of the moso bamboo community was 13355.4 g/m2, of which 53.61%, 45.82% and 0.56% are represented by the aboveground and belowground parts of moso bamboos, and the under-story plants, respectively; (2) the annual net primary production of the community was 2887.1 g/(m2·a), among which the aboveground part, belowground part, litterfalls, and other fractions, accounted for 55.86%, 35.30%, 4.50% and 4.34%, respec-tively; (3) silicon concentration in stem, branch, leaf, base of stem, root, whip of bamboos, and other plants was 0.15%, 0.79%, 3.10%, 4.40%, 7.32%, 1.52% and 1.01%, respectively; (4) the total Si accumulated in the standing crop of moso bamboo com-munity was 448.91 g/m2, with 99.83% of Si of the total community stored in moso bamboo populations; (5) within moso bamboo community, the annual uptake, retention, and return of Si were 95.75, 68.43, 27.32 g/(m2·a), respectively; (6) the turnover time of Si, which is the time an average atom of Si remains in the soil before it is recycled into the trees or shrubs, was 16.4 years; (7) the enrichment ratio of Si in the moso bamboo community, which is the ratio of the mean concentration of nutrients in the net primary production to the mean concentration of nutrients in the biomass of a community, was 0.64; and lastly, (8) moso bamboo plants stored about 1.26×1010 kg of silicon in the organic pool made up by the moso bamboo forests in the subtropical area of China.

Discrete Element Modeling of Debris Avalanche Impact on Retaining Walls

In China,gravity retaining walls are widely used as protection structures against rockfalls,debris flows and debris avalanches along the roads in mountainous areas.In this paper,the Discrete Element Method(DEM) has been used to investigate the impact of granular avalanches and debris flows on retaining walls.The debris is modeled as two dimensional circular disks that interact through frictional sliding contacts.The basic equations that control the deformation and motion of the particles are introduced.A series of numerical experiments were conducted on an idealized debris slide impacting a retaining wall.The parametric study has been performed to examine the influences of slope geometry,travel distance of the sliding mass,wall position,and surface friction on the impact force exerted on the wall.Results show that:1) the force achieves its maximum value when slope angle is equal to 60°,as it varies from 30° to 75°;2) an approximate linear relationship between the impact force and the storage area length is determined.

Patch occupancy by the Chinese Grouse(Tetrastes sewerzowi)in a fragmented landscape

The Chinese Grouse (Tetrastes sewerzowi) is a rare, endemic bird in China, inhabiting conifer-dominated mountain forests. Both the natural fragmentation and heavy cutting of mature forests have resulted in patchy grouse habitats. We used SPOT (XS-sensor) satellite imagery to discriminate between open land and conifer or broadleaf forests. The area analyzed is about 120000 ha in size and includes the Lianhuashan Nature Reserve and the Yeliguan Forestry Park. We identiifed 4111 ha of mature coniferous forests in 229 patches (maximum 332 ha, mean 18 ha) as the habitat used by Chinese Grouse throughout the year. We examined 31 forest islands of different sizes and degrees of isolation for the presence of Chinese Grouse. We used generalized linear models (GLM) with binomial error structure and logit link function to estimate the probability of Chinese Grouse occupancy in a forest fragment. Habitat patch size (hs) and distance to the next occupied fragment (doc) were used as predictor variables, important for occupancy. Small habitat islands were disproportionately less likely to be occupied than large, nearby habitats. There was a clear speciifc habitat size of about 40 ha, above which habitat fragments were occupied more often. Suitable habitat fragments isolated by more than 2 km appeared to be inaccessible to Chinese Grouse. The results have been used in reforestation projects to establish linking corridors in the study area.

Plant Pb Contents in Elevation Zones of the Changbai Mountain National Nature Reserve, China

Typical plants and soils of four elevation zones, mountain tundra （Zone A）, Betula ermanii forest （Zone B）, mountain dark coniferous forest （Zone C）, and mountain coniferous and broad-leaf forest （Zone D）, along the vertical gradient of the northern mountain slope of the Changbai Mountain National Nature Reserve, Jilin Province, China, were sampled to study the relationship between plant and soil Pb, and to compare the Pb levels in typical plant types within the same elevation zone. The Pb contents in the soil and plant samples were measured by using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed that the average plant Pb contents of the four plant elevation zones were lower than the average worldwide level, except for Zone B. Compared with the average level in China or the average worldwide level, the soil Pb levels of the four plant zones were higher, with Zones D and B having the lowest and highest averages, respectively. Plant Pb levels fluctuated from the upper to the lower zones, in a pattern of low-high-low-high, which was the same as that of the soils in the four zones. Furthermore, plant Pb was closely related to soil Pb. Depending on the plant species and plant parts, large differences were found in the Pb levels of typical plants within each zone. In Zone A, Vaccinium uliginosum and Rhododendron redowskianum had higher Pb levels than the other plants. In Zone C, the Pb levels in the branches of both plant species were higher than those in the leaves, which was contrary to Zone D. In Zone B, the Pb levels in the plant parts varied greatly with plant species.

Vegetation Dynamics and Its Relationship with Climatic Factors in the Changbai Mountain Natural Reserve

This study examined the temporal variation of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index （NDVI） and its relationship with climatic factors in the Changbai Mountain Natural Reserve （CMNR） during 2000 - 2009. The results showed as follows. The average NDVI values increased at a rate of 0.0024 year-1. The increase rate differed with vegetation types, such as 0.0034 year-1 for forest and 0.0017 year-1 for tundra. Trend analyses revealed a consistent NDVI increase at the start and end of the growing season but little variation or decrease observed in July during the study period. The NDVI in CMNR showed a stronger correlation with temperature than with precipitation, especially in spring and autumn. A stronger correlation was observed between NDVI and temperature in the tundra zone （2,000-2,600m） than in the coniferous forest （1,100-1,700m） and Korean pine-broadleaved mixed forest （7oo-1,1oom） zones. The results indicate that vegetation at higher elevations is more sensitive to temperature change. NDVI variation had a strong correlation with temperature change （r=0.7311, p〈0.01） but less significant correlation with precipitation change. The result indicates that temperature can serve as a main indicator of vegetation sensitivity in the CMNR.

Interactions between Soil Characteristics, Environmental Factors, and Plant Species Abundance: A Case Study in the Karst Mountains of Longhushan Nature Reserve, Southwest China

The ability to manage and restore plant communities in the face of human-induced landscape change may rely on our ability to predict how species respond to environmental variables.Understanding this response requires examining factors or their interactions that have influence on plant and resource availability.Our objective was to analyze the relationships between changes in plant abundance and the interaction among environmental habitat factors including soil, geological(rock type), and other environmental variables in the Longhushan karst mountains ecosystem.Species density and dominance were examined using ANOVA, ANCOVA,and Generalized Linear Models to establish the single or combined effects of these groups of factors.The results showed that trends in abundance were mainly affected by rock type(related to the percentage content of dolomite and calcite), soil characteristics in association with topography.Both plant indices were higher in dolomite dominated areas and varied positively with moisture, and elevation, but negatively with organic matter, while density also increased with slope degree.The results demonstrate that significant variations in species abundance was produced with the combination of variables from soil, geological, andenvironmental factors, suggesting their interaction influence on plants.We postulate that spatial variations in plant abundance in karst ecosystem depends on the carbonate rock type in addition to water and nutrient availability which are mainly controlled by topography and other factors such as soil texture and temperature.The study suggests that in karst areas carbonate rock type, in addition to local environmental variables, should be taken into account when analyzing the factors that have impact on plant communities.

Decline of Traditional Landscape in a Protected Area of the Southwestern Alps:the Fate of Enclosed Pasture Patches in the Land Mosaic Shift

【Title】【Author】【Addresses】1Traditional landscape elements such as pasture patches enclosed in a forest matrix are progressively disappearing throughout the European Alps. We assessed the land mosaic shift of a protected area located in the western Italian Alps. In particular, the dynamics of pasture patches were studied at both landscape and stand level. Land-cover mapping through object-oriented analysis of historical aerial photographs was used to assess land-cover changes between 1954 and 2000. Spatial statistics were used to quantify landscape patterns, and field samplings within pasture patches were used to explore tree regeneration structure and composition. Our results showed a significant increase in the number of pasture patches caused by their fragmentation following forest expansion. The total surface area of pasture patches decreased by 43% and their core area decreased by 94%. The encroachment of trees on less accessible areas of the pasture patches caused a reduction of patch shape at landscape scale. The gap filling process started 40-50 years ago and began with an early invasion of light demanding species like sycamore maple （Acer pseudoplatanus L.） and common ash （Fraxinus excelsior L.）, followed by European beech （Fagus sylvatica L.） and secondarily silver fir （Abies alba Mill.）. Traditional land-use and population decline in the Pesio Valley led to a reduction in ecotone areas. A transition to a more homogeneous landscape is expected in the next decades. Given the cultural and productive nature of these mountain meadow-pasture communities, extensive livestock grazing systems could be used to manage their future conservation.

Medical mountain rescue in the Yushu Earthquake: Have lessons been learned?

On April 14,2010,an earthquake reaching Richter scale 7.1 struck Jiegu Town of Yushu,a mountain rescue operation promptly launched. All injurers had a direct assess to take medical care,and were immediately rescued and rapidly evacuated by air to Xining and Golmud at lower altitudes and admitted to advanced hospitals. Almost all of the injurers have been completely recovered. Yushu Earthquake was one of the highest earthquakes in the world,with a high incidence of acute altitude illness,which was observed in about 80 % of the lowland rescuers at an altitude of 4 000 m."Rescue the rescuers"became the major task of Qinghai-Tibetan rescue teams,all the severe patients were rapidly descended to Xining and treated promptly and effectively. The outcome was excellent,all patients survived. After the earthquake,it is a long and arduous task to reconstruct what has been destroyed. Medical teams continue to work in the Yushu Earthquake area because about 30 000 workers and carders are now here for rebuilding the earthquake center. Thus the prevention and treatment of altitude illness are still critical tasks for medical teams. Although all the fights are successful,there are more experiences and lessons we have learned from the medical mountain rescue during the earthquake and the reconstruction,and reports here are to sum up our experiences from the medical mountain rescue operation in Yushu Earthquake and draw the lessons that we should learn. With the increasing of earthquake probability occurring in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau,we also should prepare against earthquake disasters and for further rescue training in the high mountains.

Nature Reserve and Ecotourism Development in China’s Wuzhishan Mountain Region

As the protected areas of land and coastal environment, nature reserves are designed to address how to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity, the quest for economic and social development and the maintenance of cultural values. This paper establishes a framework for nature reserve development that seeks to incorporate ecotourism into its strategies. The overall purpose was to identify the information needs required for a comprehensive nature reserve that incorporates ecotourism related values. It also illustrates the utility of this framework in the context of the Wuzhishan Mountain Region of China. A literature review, the first phase of a visionary strategy and a subsequent gap analysis for available management information were undertaken in order to achieve this paper＇s purpose. Finally, recommendations axe pre-sented for integrating ecotourism into nature reserve development in the Wuzhishan Mountain Region.

Integrated Futures for Europe’s Mountain Regions: Reconciling Biodiversity Conservation and Human Livelihoods

Europe＇s mountains cover nearly half of the continent＇s area and are home to one fifth of the European population. Mountain areas are hotspots of biodiversity and agriculture has played a multifunctional role in defining and sustaining mountain biodiversity. Ongoing trends of agricultural decline are having negative impacts on mountain biodiversity. This paper presents results from an interdisciplinary European research project, BioScene, which investigated the relationship between agriculture and biodiversity in six mountain study areas across Europe to provide recommendations for reconciling biodiversity conservation with social and economic activities through an integrated rural development strategy. BioScene used scenario analysis and stakeholder participation as tools for structuring the analysis of alternative mountain futures. Three main BioScene scenarios were evaluated： Business as Usual （BAIT）, Agricultural Liberalisation （Lib）, Managed Change for Biodiversity （MCB）. BioScene brought together ecologists, economists, sociologists and rural geogra- phers, to carry out interdisciplinary analysis of the scenarios： identifying key drivers of change, assessing the biodiversity consequences and evaluating costeffectiveness. BioScene used a sustainability assessment to integrate the research outputs across natural and social science disciplines to assess the broader sustainability of the scenarios in terms of biodiversity, natural resources, rural development, social development, economic development and institutional capacity. The sustainability assessment showed that the MCB scenario was potentially the most sustainable of the three BioScene scenarios. Through the reconciliation of potentially conflicting objectives, such as conservation, economic development and human livelihoods, and with a strong participatory planning approach, the MCB scenario could represent an alternative approach to BaU for sustainable rural development in Europe＇s mountains. BioScene confirms the necessity for natural and social scientists to work together to seek solutions to environmental problems. Interdisciplinary research can assist with the definition of integrated strategies with the potential to reconcile the ecological, social and economic parameters that determine a sustainable future for European mountain areas.

Paradigm and Ecological Implication of Changing Agricultural Land-use:A Case Study from Govind Wildlife Sanctuary,Central Himalaya,India

The paper scrutinizes that the changes in any sub-system(i.e.agriculture,livestock and forest) have direct impact on biophysical and social processes in village ecosystem of the central Himalayan region.In view of this,we studied the changes in spatial patterns of agricultural land use and dependency of agroecosystem on forest and animal husbandry over a period of two decades.Based on data analysis it was found that the cultivation of some traditional crops has either been abandoned in the area or declined by 25%-85% due to introduction of cash crops viz.,potato,kidney bean and apple farming with acreage increased up to 51%-72% in the last three decades.Livestock population of different categories has declined drastically by 17%-75%,and has resulted shortage of farmyard manure,deterioration of soil quality and fertility which leads to un-sustainability of agriculture system.The changes in agrobiodiversity have led to the dramatic increase in soil loss and runoff from the croplands together with the increase pressure on forests.The economic evaluation of each crop showed higher monetary benefit from cash crops as compared to traditional crops.Among all the evaluated crops,the monetary output/input ratio was found highest(3.04) for kidney bean and lowest(1.26) for paddy.Changes in land use and management have improved household income but at the cost of forest degradation,less productive animal husbandry and loss of agrodiversity in the region.Therefore,there is an urgent need to bring desirable changes in agricultural policy,research,land use and efficient management of the resources for maintaining sustainability in agro and Himalayan forest ecosystem.

Community attitudes toward ecotourism development and environmental conservation in nature reserve:a case of Fujian Wuyishan National Nature Reserve,China

Using social exchange theory, this study investigated residents＇ attitudes toward the preliminary stage of tourism development in nature reserves in Wuyishan National Nature Reserve of China, and the socio-economic and negative effects of residents＇ attitude toward the tourist industry. Results of the questionnaire survey indicated that local people perceived they could benefit from the economic activities related to tourism, and were supportive of the conservation of natural resources and local culture, sustainable community development, and community participation in ecotourism planning and management. This study also revealed that the variables of age, gender, education level, household income, family size, non-farm work arrangements, and the distance to tourism attractions, have significant association with respondents＇ attitudes toward ecotourism development, or negative impacts of the tourist industry. Respondents who are male, or have a higher household income, are more supportive of tourism development inside the reserve. Younger and more highly educated community members are more likely to support learning more about natural and cultural resources and landscapes. Respondents who have a hieher household income, or live far fromthe village center, are more concerned about the negative environmental impacts of tourism development.