Adaptive management for alpine grassland of the Tibetan Plateau based on a multi-criteria assessment

With the increasing threats of global climate change and human activities to terrestrial ecosystems, understanding the quality of alpine grassland ecosystems and their influencing factors is fundamental for effective ecosystem management and improving human well-being. However, current adaptive mana...

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Main Authors: Tianyu Zhan, Shurong Zhang, Wenwu Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1518721/full
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author Tianyu Zhan
Tianyu Zhan
Shurong Zhang
Shurong Zhang
Wenwu Zhao
Wenwu Zhao
author_facet Tianyu Zhan
Tianyu Zhan
Shurong Zhang
Shurong Zhang
Wenwu Zhao
Wenwu Zhao
author_sort Tianyu Zhan
collection DOAJ
description With the increasing threats of global climate change and human activities to terrestrial ecosystems, understanding the quality of alpine grassland ecosystems and their influencing factors is fundamental for effective ecosystem management and improving human well-being. However, current adaptive management plans for alpine grasslands based on multi-criteria assessment are limited. This study utilized field investigations at 77 sampling points, drone remote sensing, and satellite remote sensing data to construct an alpine grassland quality index based on vegetation and soil indicators, and assess the ecosystem’s resilience and pressure. The assessment revealed that the alpine grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau were classified into five zones, indicating significant differences in quality and pressure levels. Key findings showed that the High-Quality Pressure Zone comprise 41.88% of the area of alpine meadow and 31.89% of alpine steppe, while the Quality Improvement-Limitation Zone account for 21.14% and 35.8% of the respective areas. The study recommends graded protection and recovery strategies for alpine grasslands based on quality levels: prioritizing high-quality grasslands, implementing dynamic monitoring and enhancement for moderate-quality grasslands, and applying artificial interventions and suitable species for low-quality grasslands. This research underscores the importance of zoning-based adaptive strategies for sustainable ecosystem management and provides valuable insights for effective management and protection of alpine grasslands in the Tibetan Plateau.
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spelling doaj-art-f94c841c451b4042bb48d0be072129e22025-08-20T02:47:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-03-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15187211518721Adaptive management for alpine grassland of the Tibetan Plateau based on a multi-criteria assessmentTianyu Zhan0Tianyu Zhan1Shurong Zhang2Shurong Zhang3Wenwu Zhao4Wenwu Zhao5State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Land Surface System and Sustainable Development, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Land Surface System and Sustainable Development, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Land Surface System and Sustainable Development, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaWith the increasing threats of global climate change and human activities to terrestrial ecosystems, understanding the quality of alpine grassland ecosystems and their influencing factors is fundamental for effective ecosystem management and improving human well-being. However, current adaptive management plans for alpine grasslands based on multi-criteria assessment are limited. This study utilized field investigations at 77 sampling points, drone remote sensing, and satellite remote sensing data to construct an alpine grassland quality index based on vegetation and soil indicators, and assess the ecosystem’s resilience and pressure. The assessment revealed that the alpine grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau were classified into five zones, indicating significant differences in quality and pressure levels. Key findings showed that the High-Quality Pressure Zone comprise 41.88% of the area of alpine meadow and 31.89% of alpine steppe, while the Quality Improvement-Limitation Zone account for 21.14% and 35.8% of the respective areas. The study recommends graded protection and recovery strategies for alpine grasslands based on quality levels: prioritizing high-quality grasslands, implementing dynamic monitoring and enhancement for moderate-quality grasslands, and applying artificial interventions and suitable species for low-quality grasslands. This research underscores the importance of zoning-based adaptive strategies for sustainable ecosystem management and provides valuable insights for effective management and protection of alpine grasslands in the Tibetan Plateau.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1518721/fulladaptive managementzonemulti-criteriaalpine grasslandTibetan Plateau
spellingShingle Tianyu Zhan
Tianyu Zhan
Shurong Zhang
Shurong Zhang
Wenwu Zhao
Wenwu Zhao
Adaptive management for alpine grassland of the Tibetan Plateau based on a multi-criteria assessment
Frontiers in Plant Science
adaptive management
zone
multi-criteria
alpine grassland
Tibetan Plateau
title Adaptive management for alpine grassland of the Tibetan Plateau based on a multi-criteria assessment
title_full Adaptive management for alpine grassland of the Tibetan Plateau based on a multi-criteria assessment
title_fullStr Adaptive management for alpine grassland of the Tibetan Plateau based on a multi-criteria assessment
title_full_unstemmed Adaptive management for alpine grassland of the Tibetan Plateau based on a multi-criteria assessment
title_short Adaptive management for alpine grassland of the Tibetan Plateau based on a multi-criteria assessment
title_sort adaptive management for alpine grassland of the tibetan plateau based on a multi criteria assessment
topic adaptive management
zone
multi-criteria
alpine grassland
Tibetan Plateau
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1518721/full
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