The Effects of Terrain Factors and Cultural Landscapes on Plateau Forest Distribution in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, China

The Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is a typical plateau area, and its ecological environment very fragile. It necessary to explore the terrain cultural factors for protection of local environment. We mainly investigated quantified effect two landscapes (temples villages) on spatiotemporal variation characteristics four types forest landscape in from 1990 2015 using remote sensing (RS) geographic information system (GIS) technology. results showed that, under influence factors, were only distributed places with an altitude 5055 meters above sea level (masl) 6300 masl, slope 0–27°, largest distribution area was shrubbery. decreased increase altitude, it first rose then slope. Regression analysis that closed land open followed polynomial function, while shrubbery logarithmic impact three amplitude version Gaussian peak function. Considering temples villages did not determine same way as natural do, but they motivated amount over scales. Temples had greater than villages, this positive stronger within 6 km. around temple accounts more 45.67% total has changed significantly 25 years. In summary, affect forest, scale distribution. These reveal could motivate even effective management sustainable development.