| Wild Life Resources
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With a complicated geological
structure, the Nyingchi area has high mountains, deep
forests, and great drops between the tops of mountains
and ravines. Influenced by the warm and humid southwestern
monsoon, great differences in temperatures and precipitation
form a complete ecological system from tropical to frigid
zones. This is a true paradise for wild life. With minimum
human interference, this has become a rare ecological
landscape.
The species of higher plants found in Nyingchi number
over 6,000, among which over 5,000 are vascular boundless,
over 700 are bryophytes, 46 species of 15 subfamilies
of 7 families of gymnosperms. The percentage of forest
coverage is 46.1 percent, and the stock volume of tree
is 882 million cubic meters, among which the mature and
over-mature forests account for 97.5 percent. The major
local commercial trees are the dragon spruce and fir,
which have straight trunks and make good quality materials
for architecture and interior decoration.
In the mountainous temperate zone
are alpine oaks, which are important for making
high-grade, hard wood furniture and wooden handicrafts.
In the subtropical evergreen latifoliate forests
are valuable commercial trees, such as the camphor
tree and nanmu. In the mountainous tropical and
temperate forests are some rare coniferous trees,
such as various fir trees and pine trees.
Cancer-fighting elements can be extracted from the
branches and leaves of some of these trees; thus,
the potential for exploitation is great. In some
places of the Medog Nature Reserve, the spinulose
tree fern, a plant under first-grade State protection,
can be found, which is called a "living fossil"
because it has disappeared in many places around
the world. |
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| ¡¡¡¡King of cypress of Nyingchi |
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Edible fungi and precious medicinal plants also live in
this forest. The morel, hedgehog hydnum and other valuable
species are famous in and out of China for their delicious
flavors and being chemical-free. Major medicinal plants
include the snow lotus, Chines caterpillar fungus, elevated
gastrodia, fritillary, dangshen, Chinese cinnamon and
Chinese magnoliavine. Plenty of medicinal materials are
produced here every year and transported to other places
in Tibet and even all over the country. The resource of
wild flowers is also abundant. Major species include the
alpine azalea, Tibetan iris, yellow peony, orchid and
alpine rough gentian. According to unofficial statistics,
there are over 80 species of the orchid family. The prospect
for exploitation is vast.
The Nyingchi area also has various species of wild animals.
It is the habitat of 106 species of animals under State
protection, such as tigers, deer, wild oxen, takins, musk
deer and vultures. Among them, 30 are under first-grade
State protection, and 65 are under second-grade State
protection.
The Tibetan people have a long tradition of protecting
wild animals, which is why Tibet is a safe habitat for
them. In some forest zones, muntjacs are occasionally
heard seeking food in villages, and sometimes monkeys
beg for food at people's homes. To protect and properly
exploit the rich wild life resources and develop the local
economy, governments at all levels in Nyingchi have stringently
implemented the Law for Protecting Wild Animals of the
PRC and related laws and regulations, established executive,
administrative and public security offices, and laid down
measures for protection and administration. At present,
the whole area has 80 forest administrative officials,
33 forest policemen and 6 forest administrative checkpoints
along highways. The forestry functional departments are
working hard to provide effective protection for the rich
wild life resources here.
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