ECOSYSTEM APPROACH FOR EVALUATING DEGRADATION PROCESSES AND NATURE PROTECTION IN INNER ASIA
Abstract
he paper presents results of eco-biological assessment of Inner Asian ecosystems using the example of Mongolia as a case study. The comprehensive environmental analysis of changes in Mongolia’s environment included approaches based on three principles: (1) formal, (2) administrative division, and (3) landscape-ecological. We analyzed ecosystems that have undergone at last three levels of alterations (moderate, heavy, and very heavy) due to anthropogenic factors. Based on our analysis of degradation processes that result in heavy and very heavy anthropogenic alteration of the natural environment, we isolated 5 groups of hazardous degradation processes: (1) rangeland overgrowth with shrubs, (2) deforestation of forest-steppe ecosystems, (3) desertification of ecosystems on light soils, (4) depletion of ecosystems of hydromorphic landscapes, and (5) narcotization of agrocenoses in modified ecosystems. The comprehensive assessment of adverse changes of natural habitats has enabled a revision of the state policy for the organization of the optimum network of wildlife reserves for conservation of floristic and faunistic diversity.
About the Authors
Chultem DugarjavMongolia
Laboratory of Forestry, Institute of Botany, Mongolian Academy of Sciences 210351, Jukovin gudamj, 77. Ulaanbaatar
Peter Gunin
Russian Federation
Laboratory of Arid Territories Ecology, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, RAS, 119071, Leninsky prospect, 33, Moscow
Sergey Bazha
Russian Federation
Laboratory of Arid Territories Ecology, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, RAS, 119071, Leninsky prospect, 33, Moscow
Mijidorj Saandar
Mongolia
MonMAP Engineering Service Co., LTD, 210232, Seoul Street, Sarora h., office 2. Ulaanbaatar
References
1. Gunin P.D. (1993) Component B. Conservation Areas/ Wildlife. Final Report. Ulaanbaatar.
2. November. 66 p. (In English).
3. Gunin P.D., Bazha S.N. (2003) Ecological assessment of degradation processes in the Northern
4. part of Baikal Basin. In: Conserving Biodiversity in Arid Ecosystems. KAP. Chapter 12. pp.
5. –177. (In English).
6. Gunin P., Bazha S. (2004) Prospects and problems of development transboundary protected
7. areas in Inner Asia // Proceedings of the All-Russian Sci. Conf., Ulan-Ude: Buryat
8. Center of Siberian Branch RAS. p. 7–9. (In Russian).
9. Gunin, P.D. & Vostokova, E.A. (Eds). (1995). The map “Ecosystems of Mongolia”, scale 1: 1000
10. 15 sheets. Moscow. (In English).
11. Gunin P., Vostokova E., Dorofeyuk N., Tarasov P., Black C. (1999) Vegetation Dynamics of
12. Mongolia. Kluwer Academic Publishers. Dordrecht/Boston/London. 225 p. (In English).
13. Gunin P.D., Vostokova E.A., Matyushkin E.N. (1998) Protection of Ecosystems of Inner Asia.
14. Moscow. Nauka. Vol XL. 219 p. (In Russian).
15. Kamelin R.V., Ulziykhutag N. (2005) New data on the Mongolian flora of vascular plants
16. and perspectives of the future investigations // Proceedings of Int. Conf. “Ecosystems of
17. Mongolia”. Ulaanbaatar. Bembi San P.H. pp. 104–106. (In Russian).
18. Kharin N.G., Tateishi R. (2004) Map of degradation of the drylands of Asia // Arid Ecosystems.
19. Vol. 10. N 24–25. pp. 17–28. (In English).
20. Rachkovskaya E.I., Volkova E.A., Evstifeev Yu.G. (2007) Central Asia as a geographical region
21. and natural regionalization // Ecosystems of the Inner Asia: Issues of Research and Conservation.
22. Moscow. pp. 22–33. (In Russian).
For citation:
Dugarjav C., Gunin P., Bazha S., Saandar M. ECOSYSTEM APPROACH FOR EVALUATING DEGRADATION PROCESSES AND NATURE PROTECTION IN INNER ASIA. GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY. 2010;3(2):66-77. https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2010-3-2-66-77
Views: 175
Email this article 