The Qinghai Forestry Research Institute at Qinghai Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences (QAAFS) was founded in 1957. Based on the ecological and economic needs of the Qinghai Plateau, the institute conducts research on tree breeding, forest cultivation, ecological environment protection, forest management, desertification control, forest resource development and utilization, and urban greening. Over the decades, the institute has achieved significant research results and made outstanding contributions to Qinghai’s ecological construction and economic development. Since the 1980s, it has published over 10 books, including Qinghai Woody Flora, Xining Small Moth Atlas, Qinghai Wild Ground Cover Plant Atlas, Qinghai Plateau Lycium Germplasm Resources and Cultivation Technology Research, and China’s Transparent-winged Moth.
The institute consists of several research departments:
- Plateau Forest Genetic Breeding Laboratory
- Forest Cultivation Laboratory
- Ecological Protection and Restoration Laboratory
- Resource Development and Utilization Laboratory
- Ecological Research Center
It also manages two National Forestry Administration Terrestrial Ecosystem Positioning Research Stations, the Qinghai Guinan Desert Ecosystem Positioning Observation Research Station, and the Qinghai Plateau Forest Genetic Breeding Laboratory. The institute currently has 16 employees.
Key research areas and achievements:
Forest cultivation and afforestation technologies
The institute explores the carrying capacity of plateau forest land and forest succession dynamics, focusing on seedling cultivation, afforestation in ecologically fragile areas, and forest protection. Since 2000, it has undertaken over 10 provincial and ministerial research projects, developing a demonstration model for returning farmland to forest (grass) on the Qinghai Plateau. The institute has identified tree species suitable for afforestation on arid and saline-alkali land, forming a drought-resistant and salt-alkali afforestation technology that integrates land preparation, container seedling afforestation, mulching, water absorbent usage, and growth regulators.
Ecological protection and restoration
The Ecological Protection and Restoration Research Department focuses on forest, desert, and wetland ecosystems of the Qinghai Plateau. It has undertaken more than 30 research projects on soil and water loss control, desertification monitoring, succession of sand control plants, and comprehensive sand control. The department has developed:
- Vegetation restoration technology for difficult sites in loess areas
- Optimal configuration technology for alpine sandy area vegetation
- Restoration technology for degraded grasslands in alpine sandy areas
Forest resource development and utilization
The Resource Development and Utilization Research Department works on the development and utilization of forest resources, particularly germplasm resources of economic tree species, high-quality seedling cultivation, and forest product safety. The department promotes sustainable utilization of plateau forest resources and addresses key technical challenges affecting their development.
Qinghai Plateau Tree Genetic Breeding Laboratory
Established in 2013, this key laboratory of Qinghai Province focuses on tree genetic improvement, biotechnology, and resource collection. It specializes in:
- Tree breeding and selection
- Soil and water conservation and desertification control
- Urban forestry and economic forest research
It combines traditional breeding methods with modern biotechnology to accelerate the application of high-quality germplasm in Qinghai.
Ecosystem research stations:
Terrestrial Ecosystem Positioning Research Station (Ma Kehe, Golog)
Established in 2014 in Banma County, Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, this station studies mountain coniferous forests, mixed forests, and alpine shrubs. Key research includes:
- Forest ecosystem vegetation succession and restoration
- Impact of vegetation on water cycles, soil erosion, and climate change
- Forest carbon sequestration and biodiversity impact on ecosystem functions
It supports national forestry ecological projects and sustainable natural resource management.
Qinghai Guinan Desert Ecosystem Positioning Observation and Research Station
Located in Guinan County, Qinghai, within the Huangshatou High-Cold Drought Sand Control Demonstration Area, this station conducts long-term observations of desert ecosystems in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau’s high-altitude sandy areas. Research focuses on:
Desert ecosystem structure and function
- Desertification processes in high-altitude sandy regions
- Sand and dust activity monitoring
- Desertification prevention and control technologies
More information (in Chinese): https://nky.qhu.edu.cn/jgsz/kxyjbm/19204.htm.
