Vegetation of Yunnan, China
Xiaokun OU
Institute of Ecology and Geobotany, Kunming, Yunnan, China
Yunnan, situated in southwest part of China, has unique diversified landforms and
vegetation types. A classification system with 12 vegetation types, 45 vegetation
subtypes and 445 formations in Yunnan was established in the 1980’s in the book
of 'Yunnan Vegetation', and more than 45 new formations was found subsequently.
Vegetation can be summarized using six characteristics: 1) vegetation types in horizontal
latitude are diversified and rare; 2) vegetation distribution has its vertical
belt in different areas; 3) nonzonal vegetation has its obviously characters; 4) different
original mountain vegetation types are still distributed in Yunnan; 5) zonal
and nonzonal vegetation types are crosslinked in different areas from tropical to
temperate areas; 6) the flora is rich and comparatively diverse, unique and originating
in different areas. With human disturbance, the vegetation change was
heavily influenced by regional population density, population growth rate and
market demand, and change in landuse policies. Forest reduction was due to
logging and expansion of land used for cultivation. Increasedf forest area can be
attributed to the change of vegetation from scrub or shrub-grassland to forest.
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© 2012 Organizing Committee
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