Valleys of Yunnan

Explanation: Flying southeast from Lijiang to Kunming, in the western portion of Yunnan Province, south China, we spot a string of densely-packed island villages nestled in the heart of deep green seas of agricultural fields. These are the broad valleys of the Changgou and Yanggong Rivers.

The village of Xindengcum, above, is one of a long
string of villages that cut the spine of these long river valleys.

These valleys, just southeast of Lijiang, are part of the region of China where two major plateaus converge: the Yunnan-Guizhou and the Qinghai-Tibet. The Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, situated in subtropical climes, rises to 1,000 to 2,000 meters (3300 to 6600 feet), with level valleys of deep soil. This plateau includes the cities of Lijiang and Kunming.

Here, the village of Banbei sits amidst
pools, ponds, wetlands, rice fields, and productive croplands.

Studies have shown that land use and land cover have changed in the region drastically between 1974 and 2008, with a rapid increase in developed areas near cities, whereas the agricultural land changed little. Conflict among minority societies in the region have led to degradation of traditions and cultural identities. Only recently with the surge of tourism of the region have efforts been made to restore the cultural diversity of the area.

Information:
     Guo-jun, M. 2010. A summary of latest three decades' ecnological changes in Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau -- on the value of national local ecological-knowledge. Guizhou Ethnic Studies 2010-06.
     Zhao, Y., K. Zhang, Y. Fu, and H. Zhang. 2012. Examining land-use/land-cover change in the Lake Dianchi Watershed of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau of southwest China with remote sensing and GIS techniques: 1974-2008. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 9(11):3843-3865.

EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week