Diminishing Influence of Climate Change on Vegetation Dynamics of the Qilian Mountains

Strategic Insights -

Research on the Qilian Mountains (QLMs) in China has revealed that vegetation trends in the region are influenced by complex topography, climate variability, and human activities. A study published in Environmental Development reported that since 2001, vegetation in the QLMs exhibited an overall improving trend, with localized degradation mainly located in the eastern and central sections. The study employed Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze how climatic, anthropogenic, soil, and topographic factors shape spatial variation in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI).

Key Takeaways:

  • The QLMs vegetation trends have shown an overall improving trend since 2001, with a 87.15% increase in vegetation cover.
  • Localized degradation was observed in the eastern and central sections, accounting for 2.66% of the total area.
  • Climatic factors are the primary drivers of spatial variation in NDVI in the QLMs, followed by human activities and topographic factors.
  • Soil properties have the least impact on NDVI in the QLMs.
  • The pathways of these factors are similar across different regions, but their intensity varies significantly.
  • The influence of climatic factors on vegetation has weakened as vegetation in most areas gradually adapts to climate change.
  • Climate change and human activities contributed 68.50% and 31.50% to interannual changes of vegetation, respectively.

Statistics:

  • 87.15% improvement in vegetation cover since 2001
  • 2.66% localized degradation in the eastern and central sections
  • 68.50% contribution of climate change to interannual changes of vegetation
  • 31.50% contribution of human activities to interannual changes of vegetation

Sources:

  • Environmental Development: Diminishing Influence of Climate Change As the Dominant Factor On Vegetation Dynamics of the Qilian Mountains. 2025;56.
  • Chinese Academy of Sciences: Tao Zexing, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China.