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Think of Tibet, and the Himalayan Mountains probably come to mind. But their slightly smaller neighbors to the east are also important. The Qionglai-Minshan Mountains are among the steepest and tallest mountains on Earth, with some peaks reaching nearly 25,000 feet (7,500 m) high. These dense coniferous forests grow in middle elevations with an understory of bamboo. This cool, foggy realm is habitat for some of the last giant pandas, as well as many other rare species, such as the takin.
The Qionglai-Minshan Mountains separate the Tibetan Plateau and the Sichuan Basin. Gonga Shan, the highest summit at 2479 feet (7,556 m) is so steep that the glaciers on its east face tumble down below the tree line before they finally melt.
As in other places, elevation helps determine the vegetation in this ecoregion. Pine and spruce can be found in the drier, lower valleys. Fir and larch are abundant in the mid elevations, and juniper grows at the highest altitudes, where the soil is rocky and well-drained. In these coniferous forests, trees tower above a thick understory of deciduous maple, birch, mountain ash, and bamboo. Both giant and red pandas rely on thickets of one of their favorite foods, bamboo. Rare goat-like takins enjoy grazing on the lush vegetation, while Yunnan golden monkeys live in trees in the southern part of the ecoregion. Several large cats prowl about, including the leopard.
The Qionglai-Minshan Mountains are too steep, cool, and humid for agriculture, so few people live in the ecoregion. But logging destroys habitat and hunting decreases animal populations. The skins and other parts of leopards, deer, bears, and other animals are sold in local markets, as well as rare plants that are sought for medicine. Such trade is increasing as more tourists come to the area. For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report. All text by World Wildlife Fund © 2001
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