Tibetan Plateau, Sichuan, China Photograph by Tsahi Hod   Southern Asia: Southern China Montane Grasslands and Shrublands   177,900 square miles (460,800 square kilometers) -- about thrice the size of Georgia Critical/Endangered

· Tibetan Grazing Lands
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Tibetan Grazing Lands

If you were to venture into the southeastern section of Tibet, you'd encounter rolling meadows and scrublands. And you'd probably encounter herds of domestic yaks and goats, as well as the people who own them. This landscape has long had much to offer grazing species. What's changed over time is that the dominant animals of the region have changed from wild grazers--such as gazelles and deer--to domesticated animals.

Special Features

This ecoregion covers a broad expanse of the high Tibetan Plateau at elevations mostly above 13,100 feet (4000 m). Temperatures are cold, but there is enough moisture to sustain dense plant growth. In general, places where the snow pack is slower to melt tend to have more lush scrub vegetation--in part because they stay wetter year-round, and in part because the snow helps protect the ground from the damaging effects of grazing and trampling by livestock. Scrub vegetation gives way to shrublands and meadows in drier parts of the region.

	Wealthy trophy hunters from the United States and other countries still pay fees of up to $35,000 to hunt Tibetan antelope, even though these animals are in serious decline.

Wild Side

Many large mammals historically inhabited this region, including Tibetan argali, Tibetan gazelles, and brown bears. But scientists don't know whether these three species can still be found here. They do know that small numbers of white-lipped deer roam between the scrublands and meadows and high alpine communities. And blue sheep are widespread in eastern parts of the plateau. It's still possible, too, that small numbers of snow leopards, lynx, and Himalayan wolves roam some parts of the region.

Cause for Concern

One of the greatest threats to the wildlife of this ecoregion is hunting. In certain Chinese provinces, snow leopard pelts are displayed for sale on the street even though these and other endangered animals are protected under Chinese laws and international treaties. Grazing pressure also remains high across much of the region.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.