Habitat quality assessment of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau National Park Cluster

Based on InVEST model, this paper evaluates the habitat quality of 13 national parks or candidate areas for national park construction (hereinafter referred to as national parks) of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau National Park Cluster in 2010, 2015 and 2020 in order to provide support for the construction, management and ecological protection and restoration of National Park Cluster in the future. The results show that: (1) The overall habitat quality of national parks in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is relatively high, and the areas with high quality of habitat quality rank occupy a dominant position and have high protection value. Among them, the habitat quality of national parks in Qiangtang, Three-River-Source, Zorgai, Qinghai Lake and Gaoligong Mountains is relatively high, while that of national parks in Pamir-Kunlun Mountains is relatively poor. (2) From 2010 to 2020, the habitat quality of Pamir-Kunlun Mountains, Three-River-Source, Zorgai, Qinghai Lake, Qiangtang and Gaoligong Mountains National Park showed an upward trend, while that of Qomolangma, Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon, Shangri La, Qilian Mountains, Minya Konka, Kangrinpoche and Giant Panda National Park showed a downward trend. (3) Habitat quality of National Park Cluster and species richness of wildlife under key protection are different in spatial distribution. National parks such as Gaoligong Mountain, Giant Pandas, Zorgai, Qinghai Lake, Minya Konka, Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon, Qomolangma and Shangri La National Park have high habitat quality and abundant species resources. National parks such as Three-River-Source, Qilian Mountains and Qiangtang have high habitat quality and relatively low species richness. However, there are many unique species with large population size. The habitat quality and species richness of Pamir-Kunlun Mountain National Park are relatively low. (4) For the candidate areas of Yarlung Zangbo River Grand Canyon, Gongga Mountains, Shangri-La and Qomolangma with high habitat quality, high species richness but declining habitat quality, it is recommended that priority be given to promoting the establishment of national parks to alleviate the destruction of high-quality habitats and important wildlife habitats by human activities.