Brief Description

China has about 6 million ha of mountain wetlands of which the largest majority are peat lands. In the peat lands dead plant material accumulates over time to form layers of peat or organic soil of up to 10 meters thick. The layers function like a sponge consisting of more than 90% water. The peat lands provide key habitats for endangered wildlife species such as black-necked cranes, rare fish, amphibian and plant species and they form major reservoirs of water maintaining water levels in streams, rivers and adjacent grasslands. The peat lands also provide important national and international eco-services in storing and sequestrating huge amounts of carbon. The peat lands, however, are negatively impacted by unsustainable farming practices (drainage, over-grazing), mining and infrastructure development and by climate change.

The project focuses on integrated management of mountain peat lands, in the two main regions where these occur in China. The project work will be conducted in Ruoergai Marshes on the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau and the Altai Mountains in NW China, it will demonstrate practical ways in which biodiversity conservation and provision of ecosystem services can be supported by different economic sectors and local communities.

After collation of available biodiversity and socio-economic information and collection of additional data, conservation strategies will be prepared with and formally approved by local governments, and then implemented. Part of the solution to the problems will involve changes in infrastructure planning and grazing management, through adjustment of livelihoods. Techniques for restoring peat lands damaged by old drainage schemes will also be demonstrated and implemented.

Overall outcome:

 The overall outcome is the involvement of different stakeholders from different sectors and government levels in China to support integrated management of mountain wetlands and their biodiversity. The project focuses on identifying and promoting options for integrated management of mountain wetlands in western China, in partnership with different economic sectors across different levels of governance (central, provincial, prefecture, county and community).

Achievements in 2007:

• All partners were well informed about the project scenario. The Inception Meeting for the project was held from 14-17 August 2007, followed by the first Project Steering Group Meeting.
• Local stakeholder meetings on the project were organized in Altai (Xinjiang Province), Lanzhou, Luqu (Gansu Province) and in Ruoergai (Sichuan Province) to enhance understanding of the project and importance of biodiversity conservation and enable further participation from local sectors when the project is implemented.
• Training workshops were organized to train key local personnel in the Ruoergai Plateau at a training workshop in Hongyuan county (Sichuan Province) and Altai, as a result local staff have become skilled in peat land survey.
• Following the field surveys and assessment, some potential new restoration sites were identified in Hongyuan, Luqu and Maqu and relevant activities undertaken on sites.
• Data collated and information reviewed on the strategy for protection and sustainable use of Altai mountain wetlands in Altai. The rapid assessment report has been drafted.
• Preliminary information and historical data were collated to support the assessment on the importance of peatlands for water supply in the Yellow River basin and carbon storage in Ruoergai marshes.