On the protection and development of Golmud Populus euphratica forest area

Golmud is located in the hinterland of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, south of the edge of Qaidam, with unique geographical location, dry and cold climate and high altitude hypoxia. Its ecological construction plays an important role in improving the plateau climate environment, and its urban development and construction have broad prospects. As a modern transportation hub, modern logistics center, resource processing and transformation center and tourism center with plateau characteristics, the protection of its surrounding forest areas, especially the protection and development of rare tree species Populus euphratica forest areas, is particularly important. This paper briefly discusses this.

At present, Golmud Populus euphratica forest has not been fully protected. They overcame sandstorm, cold and drought, but they were unable to escape the illegal axe and the trampling of cattle and sheep. Traces of logging and burning can be seen everywhere in the forest, and some trees leave only a short section of Populus euphratica pile, which is also scarred by cattle and sheep. The forest is full of rubbish littered by tourists, such as waste paper, bottles, plastics and film boxes. The whole forest area urgently needs corresponding protection policies and measures. This paper makes a simple discussion on protection and development:

First, the present situation of Golmud Populus euphratica forest area

Introduction of Populus euphratica tree species

Hu Yangshu is an ancient tree species and a rare tree species resource unique to desertification areas. It plays a very important role in stabilizing the unique ecological balance in desertification areas, preventing wind and fixing sand, regulating oasis climate and forming fertile forest soil. At the same time, it is also of great scientific value for studying the climate change, river change and the evolution of flora in desert areas.

In desert and sandy land, Populus euphratica has a history of 3 million to 6 million years. The root system of Populus euphratica can grow to 15m and spread around. In order to absorb water in extremely dry environment, it can go deep underground for about 13m. Populus euphratica is resistant to high temperature and cold, and can survive at a temperature of plus or minus 39 degrees. Drought-tolerant, can grow under the condition of precipitation below 50 mm; Salt and alkali resistance, wind and sand resistance, and strong wind of 26m per second. Populus euphratica is the only tree species that can naturally form forests, is a natural oasis, and is also one of the most widely distributed tree species in desert plains and hills in Asia.

When the age of the tree begins to age, Hu Yangshu will gradually break the branches and trunks at the top of the tree, and finally drop to three or four meters high, still flourishing, until he dies of old age and dries up. Known as the "living for a thousand years, not falling after death, landing for a thousand years" hero tree. In Ejina Banner, Inner Mongolia, Populus euphratica has a history of "being born without dying for a thousand years, dying without falling for a thousand years, but immortal for a thousand years, Populus euphratica for three thousand years, and 100 million years!" Wait for the statement.

Populus euphratica has strong saline-alkali tolerance, and grows well in the range of 1m when the soil total salt content is lower than 1%. When the total salt content is 2-3%, the growth is inhibited; When the total salt content exceeds 3%, it dies in pieces. Populus euphratica forest areas in the world are mainly distributed around the Mediterranean and in 20 countries including China. Populus euphratica in China is distributed in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Gansu and Ningxia.

2. The situation of Golmud Populus euphratica forest area

(1) Golmud Populus euphratica forest area, located in the northwest of Quke grassland in Alton, is a Tole sea area named after the Tora Black River. Tolehai, Mongolian means "a place with a lot of Populus euphratica." About 60 kilometers away from Golmud, it is the only Populus euphratica forest in Qinghai and the highest in the world. Populus euphratica forest is adjacent to Kunlun Mountain in the south and Gobi Salt Beach in the north, and the whole forest area is in the desertification zone. There is a seasonal river next to it, called the Torah Sea. The forest is accompanied by psammophytes such as reed, Haloxylon ammodendron, red willow, salt claw and camel thorn. Together with pheasants, foxes, wolves, rabbits and other wild animals, it forms a special ecosystem.

After the Populus euphratica forest area was heavily cut down in the 1960s and 1970s, the whole forest area was severely damaged. After 40 or 50 years of growth, those new Populus euphratica have grown up along the river or in low-lying places with sufficient water, while the old roots of burned and cut Populus euphratica have sprouted again, which shows the tenacity and exuberance of Populus euphratica. In today's desertification, Populus euphratica, as a green barrier, effectively blocked the expansion of the desert and the development to the northern saline-alkali beach area. Populus euphratica forest area is a natural barrier to protect agriculture and animal husbandry in sandy areas, an important habitat for wild animals and the main body to maintain ecological balance in this area. In 2000, this forest area was recognized as a provincial nature reserve.

The area is located between 36 32 ′-36 40 ′ north latitude and 90 20 ′-90 26 ′ east longitude, with a total area of 4,200 hectares and a length of 6 kilometers from east to west and a width of 7 kilometers from north to south, with an altitude of 2,730-2813 meters. The region belongs to a typical plateau continental climate, which is dry with little rain, hot in summer and cold in winter. The annual average precipitation is 45-57mm, and the annual evaporation is more than 2 150mm. The average temperature in July is above 17℃, the absolute maximum temperature is above 35℃, the average temperature in June is below-13℃, the absolute minimum temperature is below -30℃, the annual temperature difference is above 30℃, and the annual growth period is about 150d. The tora Haihe River originates from Kunlun Mountain and runs through the tora sea area. It is a seasonal inland river. It only flows from June to September every year, and the riverbed is dry most of the time. The main soil types are gray-brown desert soil, aeolian sand soil and saline soil. The animals in the nature reserve are temperate desert and semi-desert animals. Due to the limitation of environmental conditions, animal species are relatively poor.

Second, the protection significance of Populus euphratica forest

1. Prevent wind and sand, and control soil desertification.

Populus euphratica is a unique and precious forest resource in desert areas. Its roots can extend to the depth of 13 to 15m underground, and can spread to around 15m, which is easy to form a huge root network system. It plays a very important role in stabilizing ecological balance, preventing wind and fixing sand, regulating oasis climate and forming fertile forest soil in desert river areas, and is a natural barrier for developing agriculture and animal husbandry in desert areas.

2. Lock water and protect roots to improve the soil environment.

Populus euphratica is a drought-tolerant tree species, which can grow well as long as the annual precipitation is below 50 mm, its water absorption is very small, and it has a huge root network, which has a powerful function of locking soil moisture and improving the whole soil environment.

3. Expanding the area is conducive to maintaining the natural ecology.

Populus euphratica is an ancient tree species, which is of great scientific value to the study of climate change, river change, flora evolution and ancient economic and cultural development in desert areas of Asia and Africa. The requirement for its growth environment is low, which is more conducive to the development of the whole forest area. The expansion of the whole forest area plays an important role in maintaining the natural ecology of Golmud area.

3. Discussion on protection measures of Populus euphratica forest area

1. According to the relevant laws and regulations of provincial nature reserves, the corresponding protection regulations of Populus euphratica forest are promulgated. Give corresponding punishment and compensation to departments and individuals who violate the regulations.

2. Establish specific protection measures for the whole Populus euphratica forest area to prevent man-made damage. The development of Populus euphratica forest area should not only prevent the limitation of some natural conditions and the destruction of natural disasters, but also prevent some man-made destruction. For example, the trampling of cattle and sheep, the scattering of tourism garbage and so on. May cause damage to the whole Populus euphratica forest area. Therefore, it is necessary to establish specific protection measures, if necessary, enclose the whole forest net with a net fence, and it is strictly forbidden for herders in surrounding villages to graze and light fires in the forest area to cause man-made damage to the forest area.

3. Plan to drain the river and replenish soil moisture. The drainage of surrounding rivers flows through the forest area or around the forest area in a planned way, and the soil moisture in the whole forest area is planned and supplemented manually, so as to maintain the root system of Populus euphratica and promote the spread and growth of the whole forest area more effectively.

4. Discussion on the development of Populus euphratica forest area

1. Develop tourism projects in a planned way to ensure the economic value of Populus euphratica forest area. Every October, Populus euphratica will turn from thick green to golden yellow, like a burning flame in the boundless sky, which seems to dye the whole desert golden, making people feel the beauty of nature and the tenacity of life. This kind of scenery attracts a large number of tourists and photographers, which is very conducive to developing tourism projects and building tourism brands. Therefore, developing tourism projects is the ultimate development goal of Populus euphratica forest area. How to develop tourism projects and ensure the economic value of Populus euphratica forest area? It is an urgent problem to be considered in Golmud Populus euphratica forest area. As an oasis in Golmud in spring and summer, Populus euphratica forest area has unique advantages in tourism development. Developing tourism projects in a planned way will better ensure the economic and social value of Populus euphratica forest area.

2. The development of Populus euphratica forest area should be planned according to the scenery of the four seasons. Populus euphratica forest area has different scenery in four seasons and different development conditions. Therefore, in the development, we must use the landscape and modeling to make full use of its development value.

3. Intercropping drought-tolerant plants in plateau is beneficial to expand the whole forest area. In order to protect Populus euphratica forest area and do a good job of soil water locking in root net, a variety of plateau drought-tolerant plants were interplanted around Populus euphratica forest area, thus expanding the green area of forest area in a planned way and improving the soil and ecological environment at the same time.

4. Reasonably adjust the relationship between agriculture, animal husbandry and forest in arid and desert areas, and prohibit deforestation; Regularly use the drained river water to release water around the scenic spot to ensure the growth and development of Populus euphratica forest.

5. Establish a species protection base. As an ancient tree species, Populus euphratica's leaves and roots have unique properties and characteristics, which have high scientific research value. Therefore, the Populus euphratica forest area should establish a species protection base, regularly invite experts to observe and study Hu Yangshu, make a good record of growth and collect scientific research data.

In a word, it is urgent to develop and protect Populus euphratica forest area. I just made a simple discussion here. If there is anything wrong, please advise!

refer to

[1] Introduction of Populus euphratica. Introduction of rare trees in Qinghai. Qinghai publishing house

[2] Golmud Forestry Bureau. Report on the present situation of Populus euphratica forest.