Ice-and-snow tourism and its sustainable development in China: A new perspective of poverty alleviation

The development of ice-and-snow tourism (IST) has great potential for poverty alleviation and is of great significance for promoting the sustainable development of alpine areas. However, little attention has been given to evaluating the suitability and potential of ice-and-snow tourism in poverty-stricken areas. Taking 832 poverty-stricken counties in China as samples, this study proposed an integrity suitability index (ISI) based on natural and socioeconomic factors to evaluate the suitability and potential of developing ice-and-snow tourism in poverty-stricken counties. The results showed that there are significant differences between the spatial distributions of the suitability of glacier- and ski-related tourism. The former is mainly distributed in the Qinghai‒Tibet Plateau, while the latter is distributed in low-altitude mountainous areas. Additionally, 36.0% of the total number of poverty-stricken counties have the potential to match medium-to high-level ISIs of ice-and-snow tourism, of which 2.5%, 32.9% and 0.2% are suitable for glacier excursions, ski sports and both, respectively. Furthermore, climate change and environmental protection are the main constraints on the development of ice-and-snow tourism and corresponding development strategies are proposed. This study can provide references for scientific planning and policy making regarding the sustainable development in poverty-stricken areas.

Importance and vulnerability of water towers across Northwest China

High mountains(known as water towers)in the arid areas of Northwest China(ARNWC)are major suppliers of water resources for the downstream oasis region,where large populations and economic activities are concentrated.Studies on both water supply and water demand in central Asia including ARNWC have been explored in recent decades,but a precise study on the importance and vulnerability of fine-scale water towers still needs to be conducted,because oases are isolated each other and each oasis has its own specific tower(s).Here we ranked the importance of water tower units(WTUs)using a simplified water tower index(WTI)based on water amount of supply/demand side at a fine river basin scale.Then the vulnerability of these WTUs is assessed with the consideration of future changes in climate,population.GDP,water stress,etc.We con eluded that the WTU of the Mid-branch Rivers of the Junggar Basin is the most important with the highest WTI.while the Yarkant River Basin is the most vulnerable.The WTUs such as the Yarkant,Hotan and Kaxgar of the Tarim River Basin as well as the Hei River of the Hexi Corridor are important at present and vulnerable under a considerable pressure from future climate change scenarios.To respond to these opportunities and risks,it is better to reduce the proportion of the primary industry appropriately,improve the efficiency of water use and strengthen the supervision of water resources utilization,especially in the industrial and urban planning as well as ecological engineering projects.