How to promot...etan Plateau__FANG Chuanglin.pdf

J.Geogr.Sci.2023,33(3):639-654 DOI:https:/doi.org/10.1007/s11442-023-2099-5 2023 Science Press Springer-Verlag How to promote the green development of urbanization in the Tibetan Plateau?FANG Chuanglin1,2 1.Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research,CAS,Beijing 100101,China;2.College of Resources and Environment,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100049,China Abstract:Urbanization of the Tibetan Plateau is a part of the strategies to strengthen Chinas national security shield as well as to enhance its national ecological safety barrier and the“water tower”of Asia.It also plays an irreplaceable role in protecting one of the last unspoiled regions in the world,ensuring that the“third pole”achieves modernization in step with the rest of China,and improving the lives of all ethnic groups that live in“roof of the world.”This study discusses in detail the distinctive drivers,development path,development goals,develop-ment dynamic,and green development model and strategy of the new type of urbanization in the Tibetan Plateau,which differs markedly from the rest of China.This author asserts that urbanization of the Tibetan Plateau should involve low-intensity development,cultural trans-mission,protection of land and borders,conservation of water resources,small concentra-tions and wide dispersion of the population,social inclusivity,and improvements to the envi-ronment that benefit the people,driven by domestic investment,tourism,services,and paired assistance.The plans for the regions future development are as follows.In terms of the protection of land and borders,the Tibetan Plateau will safeguard Chinas national security with fast and stable development and ensure sufficient populations inhabit border and rural areas.By 2035,the permanent population of the plateau will be 16 million,and the level of urbanization will reach 52.5%,with stability in the middle stage of urbanization,thereby comprehensively improving the quality of urbanization.In terms of green development,it is necessary to improve the quality of ecological products and the capacity and level of ecolog-ical services,accentuate local features and folk customs,promote culture,and encourage people to tend livestock in rural areas and live in towns,thereby creating beautiful cities and towns in the Tibetan Plateau.In terms of the small concentrations and wide dispersion of the population,the overall urban pattern will be“three clusters,four belts,and multiple nodes.”The“three clusters”are the Xining,Lhasa,and Qaidam metropolitan areas;the“four belts”are along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway,the Sichuan-Tibet Railway,the Ancient Tang(Chi-na)-Tibet Road,and border areas;and“multiple nodes”refers to major urban nodes and border towns.In terms of ensuring connectivity,the Qinghai-Tibet Railway was completed Received:2022-11-20 Accepted:2022-12-30 Foundation:Innovation Research Group Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.42121001;The Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program,No.2019QZKK1005 Author:Fang Chuanglin(1966),PhD and Professor,specialized in urban geography,urban agglomeration development,and resource and environmental effects of urbanization.E-mail: This paper is initially published in Acta Geographica Sinica(Chinese edition),2022,77(8): 640 Journal of Geographical Sciences ahead of schedule,national security lines are being strengthened,and new infrastructure and smart cities are being built.Additionally,the land system of border cities is being reformed,a special zone for experimental border land reform is being constructed,and border towns are being prioritized in national strategies and territorial space planning.Keywords:urbanization process;special missions;drivers and ideas;green development;Tibetan Plateau 1 Introduction The Tibetan Plateau is Chinas national security shield and its ecological security barrier,leading some people to ask,should the“roof of the world”be urbanized?How did the 17 cities and 476 towns in the Tibetan Plateau develop?What forces drive the development and expansion of cities in the Tibetan Plateau?How big will these cities grow in the future?Are there early warning signs and can it be controlled?How can urbanization of the Tibetan Plateau protect Asias water tower and Chinas national ecological safety barrier and nation-al security shield?Will urbanization make the Tibetan Plateau more beautiful and improve the standard of living of the people who live there?With these scientific issues in mind,this author has visited the Tibetan Plateau on several occasions for a total of more than 140 days since 2019,collecting first-hand data for a database on urbanization in the region and sys-tematically analyzing the features,dynamic evolution,and spatiotemporal evolution of the Tibetan Plateaus urbanization.I have also used various models to calculate the carrying capacity of green urbanization in the Tibetan Plateau and highlighted the exceptional m