Understanding Tibet in Time and Space

UROP China Project Group

OUTLINEOUTLINE

• 1. Introduction • 2. Natural Resources• 3. Population• 4. Culture and Education• 5. Economy• 6. Environment• 7. Data Sources

1. Introduction

1.1 Tibet’s Landscape1.1 Tibet’s Landscape

Tibet – the Last Clean Land on the Earth

1.2 Tibet’s Location1.2 Tibet’s Location

Tibet is in plateau region and located at the west of Yangtze river watershed It is home to indigenous Tibetan and people from other 43 ethnic groups

1.3 Some Facts about Tibet1.3 Some Facts about Tibet Language

Tibetic Language with numerous dialects Area size

12.284 million sq meters Population

2.81 million （ at the end of 2006） Capital City

Lhasa Religion

Tibetan Buddhism Islam

Elevation Average 4,900 meters (app. 16,000 ft)

ElevationElevation andand Yangtze WatershedYangtze Watershed

1.4 Tibet’s History1.4 Tibet’s History

In 1700s and 1800s, the Chinese government appointed Ambans, or Residents, as the Tibet Governors

In 1914, Simla Convention signed by Tibet and British India with Tibet as an autonomous region of China, which, however, has never been accepted by the Chinese government

Before 1950, political and religious power was centralized in the hand of the DalaiLama, with the best agricultural land of Tibet controlled by Lamaist monasteries

In 1950, the new Chinese government took control of Tibet In 1954, China and India signed a treaty that accepted Chinese sovereignty in

Tibet In 1959, 14th Dalai Lama Fled to India after Lhasa Rebellion was suppressed by

the Chinese government In 1979, China opened Tibet to foreign tourists On July 1st, 2006, Qing-Zang railway (1956 km) started the operation

-Largely Isolated from other parts of China until the1950s

-Has never been recognized by any country as an independent state

(Veek, Pannell, Smith and Huang, 2008. China’s Geography)

Changes in Geography: Qing-Zang Railway

(Xining)

(Qinghai Lake)(Gomud)(Mt.Kunlun

)

(Budongquan)

(Wudaolian)

(Tuotuo River)

(Mt.Tanggula)

(Anduo)

(Naqiu)

(Dangxiong)

(Lhasa)

(Yangbajin)

(Kekexili)

(Tuotuo River)

(Nam Lake)

(Mt. Nianqingtanggula)

1.5 Changes in Tibet1.5 Changes in Tibet

2. Natural Resources

2.1 Rich in Natural Resources2.1 Rich in Natural Resources

Tibet has… World’s greatest alpine plants Plateau-dwelling wild animals Prime source of Asia's great rivers Loftiest mountains World's most extensive plateau Ancient forests Deep untouched valleys

2.2 Land Resources by Prefectures2.2 Land Resources by Prefectures

PrefecturePrefectureArable landArable land Forest landForest land Natural pastureNatural pasture Barren landBarren land

AreaArea %% AreaArea %% AreaArea %% AreaArea

Lhasa 55.53 15.4 101.33 0.8 2 117.79 3.27 502.24

Changdu 72.18 20.02 2 976.70 23.53 7 061.07 10.9 2 886.00

Shannan 63.74 17.68 3 059.49 24.18 3 187.51 4.92 1 188.25

Shigatse 135.52 37.59 219.97 1.74 12 617.14 19.47 4 208.52

Naqu 6.02 1.67 220.9 1.75 20 858.08 32.19 16 602.11

Ali 1.76 0.49 0 0 16 906.76 26.09 9 084.19

Linzhi 25.8 7.16 6 073.61 48.01 2 048.38 3.16 2 531.72

Tibet in total 360.56 100 12 651.98 100 64 796.72 100 37 003.03

2.3 Spatial Distribution of Natural Resource2.3 Spatial Distribution of Natural Resource

3. Population

3.1 Population of Tibet3.1 Population of Tibet Total population : approximately 2.81 million in 2006 Population Density : 2.03 people per sq km in average Age Distribution: 31.2% (0-14 years old), 64% (14-65 years old), 4.8% (65-

above) Dependency Ratio : 56.1% (Yangtze River average = 44.2%) Annual Population Growth: 11.7‰, with birth rate of 17.4‰ and death rate of

5.7‰ in 2006 Agricultural Population: 91.6%, highest among Yangtze River regions Urban Population: 8.4%, lowest among Yangtze River regions

Total Population by CountiesTotal Population by Counties

Population Per County of Tibet in 2000 (Unit: Person)

3.2 Natural Population Growth3.2 Natural Population Growth

3.3 Population Changes of Tibet3.3 Population Changes of Tibet

4. Culture and Education

4.1 Tibetan Ethnicity4.1 Tibetan EthnicityConsists of 44 ethnic groups:Consists of 44 ethnic groups:

93% Tibetan ( 藏族） 6.1% Han （汉族）

% of ethnic population in Tibet % of ethnic population in Tibet among all of their population in among all of their population in China:China:

95% Monba (门巴族） 91% Lhoba ( 珞巴族） 45% Tibetan（藏族）

4.2 Tibet Religion4.2 Tibet Religion Bön Tibetan Buddhism

Nyingma Kagyu Sakya Gelug

Tibetan Muslims (Kachee)

扎什伦布寺 , 日喀则市 ,1447-

Tashilhunpo Monastery, Shigatse

Tangka 唐卡艺术

4.3 Education4.3 EducationAll expenses of boarding schools up to 9 years education are covered by the government

E ducation Attainment by Population Aged 6 and O ver

1071534

149969

796442

16595742418 50430 23255 9962 340

0

200000

400000

600000

800000

1000000

1200000

Average Years at Schools by CountiesAverage Years at Schools by Counties

Average years at schools per county of Tibet in 2000 (Unit: Year)

Illiterate Population for Age 15 and OverIlliterate Population for Age 15 and Over

Illiterate population for age 15 and over per county of Tibet in 2000 (Unit: Year)

5. Economy

5.1 Economic Development5.1 Economic Development

5.2 Industry of Tibet5.2 Industry of Tibet

Modern industries in Tibet were close to non-existent prior to 1950

Industrial development finally surfaced in the late 1950s with the opening of several factories in Lhasa and the establishment of a hydroelectric power facility

By 1980, the economy was centered around tourism and agricultural industries

Has seen gradual industrial growth during the late 20th Century, but still is one of the least prosperous provinces in China

5.3 Agriculture of Tibet5.3 Agriculture of Tibet

Limited, but developing forestry

Important cropsBarleyWheatBeansDairy Products

Agricultural RegionsAgricultural RegionsEmployed population in Farming, Forestry, Animal Husbandry and Fishery per county of Tibet in 2000 (Unit: Person)

Agricultural OutputAgricultural Output

6. Environment

6.1 Environmental Impact6.1 Environmental Impact The increase in passenger traffic will result in greater tourism and economic activity on the Tibetan Plateau.

The railway would make coal, which is not produced in Tibet, an affordable replacement. However, the increase in fuel combustion due to increased human activity in an already-thin atmosphere may affect the long term health of the local population.

6.2 Environmental Concerns6.2 Environmental Concerns

Grassland Degradation Endangered Wildlife Deforestation Potential Water Pollution

ENDANGERED BIRDS ENDANGERED BIRDS

Tibetan eared phesant

Snow patridge

Sclater’s monal pheasant

Tibetan snowcock

Satyr tragopan Black

crane

Red-headed trogon

Koslow bunting

Calandra lark

Blyth’s Tragopan

Wood snipe

Rufous-necked hornbill

Black-tailed godwit

Golden eagle

Saker falcon

Spoonbill

Brahminy kite

Tibetan patridege

Tibetan sand grouse

ENDANGERED MAMMALS OF TIBETENDANGERED MAMMALS OF TIBET

Rhesus macaque

Shou (Red Deer)

Snow leopard

Himalayan Tahr

Black bear

Goral

Kyang (Tibetan wild ass)

Lynx

Tibetan Argali Sheep

Takin

Tibetan Antelope

Otter

Tibetan Wild Yak

Blue-sheep

(bhharal)

Ibex

Red panda

Siberian Tiger

White-lipped Deer

6.3 Global Climatic Effects6.3 Global Climatic Effects

Tibet influences the global weather pattern by affecting the flow of jet streams over the Tibetan Plateau.

Loss of forest and grassland cover of the plateau will affect pacific typhoons and also cause the El Nino effect which altogether affect the weather pattern of Europe, North America, Peru, India and China.

Challenges under Global Changes

Cultural diversity

Biological diversity

Globalization of economy

Technology innovation

Climate changes

7. Data Sources

7.1 Data Sources for Tibet Studies7.1 Data Sources for Tibet Studies

Government Statistics

Survey Data (rural, urban, enterprise, market)

Census Data (population, basic units, agriculture)

GIS Data (administrative boundaries, roads, rivers, land, elevation,….)

Remote Sensing Data

7.2 Tibet Census Data with GIS Maps7.2 Tibet Census Data with GIS Maps

- The 2000 Tibet Township Population Census Data with GIS Maps

- The 2000 Tibet County Population Census Data with GIS maps

- The 2000 Tibet Province Population Census Data with GIS Maps

- The Tibet Historical Population Census Data with GIS Maps (1953, 1964, 1982, 1990, 2000)

- Tibet 2000 Population Data with One sq km GIS Maps

- Tibet 2004 Economic Census Data with ZIP Maps

7.3 Population and Economic Census Data7.3 Population and Economic Census Data > 2,000 demographic variables in 2000 population Census

2000 Population Census:

General Information Nationalities Age Structure Household Structure Education Fertility Deaths Marriage Migration Housing Status Industries and

Occupations

Geographical Levels:

Country |

Province |

Prefecture |

County |

Township |

1 sq km Grid

2004 Economic Census:

Employment Revenue Industries Products Ownerships

7.4 Historical Population Census Data7.4 Historical Population Census Data (1953,1962,1982,1990,2000)

Census 1953

Census 1982

Census 2000

Census 1962

Census 1990

7.5 China Data Online7.5 China Data Online

Tibet STATISTICS Tibet STATISTICS

•Monthly Statistics

•National Statistics

•Provincial Statistics

•City Statistics

•County Statistics

•Industrial Data

•Statistics on Map

•Statistical Yearbooks

CENSUS DATA CENSUS DATA

• Economic Census Data

• Industrial Census Data

• Population Census (82,90,00,05)

http://Chinadatacenter.orghttp://Chinadataonline.org

ReferencesReferences Veek, Pannell, Smith and Huang. 2008. China’s

Geography, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. Tibet: The Truth (video) www.wikipedia.org www.chinadataonline.org www.cnn.com www.yahoo.co.kr www.sherig.org www.tchrd.org www.images.google.com http://www.cctv.com/specials/xizang http://news.xinhuanet.com

Thank YouThe Participants of UROP China Project:

Jenny Chiu Shang Kong

Min Ah Kim Su Kyung

Carson Qing Annie Su

China Data Center, University of Michigan