Abstract
This paper reports the main findings of a study on the factors threatening biodiversity in northwest Yunnan, a global biodiversity ‘hotspot’ in China and home to over five million people. The research was based on eight site-level case studies. The main driving forces of biodiversity loss are livelihood activities, including agricultural production, livestock grazing and the collection of fuel wood, construction timber and NTFPs. Behind these specific drivers are underlying factors including changes in demography, market conditions, resource tenure policies and development policies and projects. Some change in land cover has been due to specific trigger events, the most significant of which reflect national policy changes. At the site level, a range of biophysical and socio-cultural factors influence the specific outcomes that any particular factor may have. The paper suggests some specific redressive measures and general implications for research and policy.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.
References
Convention on Biological Diversity 2001. Global Biodiversity Outlook. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Montreal, Canada.
Geist H.J. and Lambin E.F. 2002. Proximate causes and underlying driving forces of tropical deforestation. BioScience 52: 143–150.
Guo H.J. and Long C.L. 1998. Yunnan's Biodiversity. Yunnan Science and Technology Press, Kunming, China (in Chinese).
Ji W.Z. 1999. A Report on the World Environment and Resources Program, Eastern Himalaya and South Asia Grantees Meeting. Yunnan Science and Technology Press, Kunming, China.
Mackinnon J., Sha M., Cheung C., Carey G., Zhu X. and Melville D. 1996. A Biodiversity Review of China. WWF International, Hong Kong.
Marquette C. and Bilsborrow R. 1997. Population and environment relationships in developing countries: a select review of approaches and methods. In: Baudot B. and Moomaw W. (eds), The Population, Environment, Security Equation. Macmillan, New York.
Pearce F. 2001. Logging ban backfires. New Scientist 169: 17.
Sajise E.P. 1995. Biodiversity and methods: a synthesis. In: Pei S.J. and Sajise P. (eds), Regional Study on Biodiversity: Concepts, Frameworks, and Methods. Yunnan University Press, Kunming, China.
Shapiro J. 2001. Mao's War against Nature: Politics and the Environment in Revolutionary China. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
Vayda A.P. 1983. Progressive Contextualization: Methods and Research in Human Ecology. Human Ecology 11: 265–281.
Yin S.T. 1994. Yunnan Daogeng Huozhong Zhi. Yunnan People's Press, Kunming, China (in Chinese).
Yunnan Statistics Bureau 2000. Yunnan Statistical Yearbook 2000. Yunnan Statistical Press, Kunming, China (in Chinese).
Zhao J.C., Xu J.C. and Qi K. 2001. Community Survey Report on the Natural Forest Protection and Upland Conservation Programs in Yunnan. Yunnan Science and Technology Publishers, Kunming, China (in Chinese).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Xu, J., Wilkes, A. Biodiversity impact analysis in northwest Yunnan, southwest China. Biodiversity and Conservation 13, 959–983 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BIOC.0000014464.80847.02
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BIOC.0000014464.80847.02
- Biodiversity impact assessment
- China
- Land cover change
- Livelihoods
- Policy impacts