Climate change has caused many habitats and ecosystems around the world to change drastically compared to normal rates. One example is the Changbai “Great White” Mountains on the northeast border of China, near North Korea. The peaks range from 600-2600 meters, with multiple vegetation zones. The climate is known to have long, cold winters with an average of 55 inches of rain a year. The Changbai mountains have been declared one of the most biodiverse areas in Asia, due to the vast variation in environment the mountain range has to offer. Lately, the Changbai Mountains have been impacted by a lot of change, including global warming, logging, hunting, and tourism developments.
Global warming has caused the average temperature of the mountains to raise, forcing the cool zones to retreat north dozens of kilometers. The notably cold winters have also become shorter. This has increased the growing season of broad-leaved trees. Pine trees must now compete more for resources, which are already dying off due to the increase in temperature.
Logging has also been a major cause in the loss of forest acres. China has many strict logging laws in their nationally protected parks, but many of the area surrounding them have been extensively logged. As for the mountains on the North Korean side, most of the forests have been cleared for farming and logging purposes. Such major losses to forest land has forced out many of the species of animals that live there as well, that are already under threat.
Hunting in those mountains have caused many animals to become endangered and/or extinct. Two notable animals on the endangered list are the Chinese tree frog and the Siberian tiger. Both animals are known to be economical, leading them to be hunted and poached, almost to the point of extinction. The Siberian tiger population is estimated to be as low as 20 remaining in China.
Many of the locals are unaware of the dangers to the ecosystem in the Changbai mountains. The ecosystem is so economically rich, from the logging of the forests for lumber, goods extracted from the rare animals that bring a hefty price, the land as real estate for the government to clear off and sell, and tourism bringing in millions of foreign dollars that fuel the local governments. The locals enjoy this in flow of money, to where there is little protest against the degrading of the Changbai mountains.
Research on the condition of the Changbai mountains has concluded that people and the government do not understand the impacts on the ecosystem well enough to be able to solve or prevent the damage being done. The Chinese law protecting the Changbai mountains applies to the trees in the forests. This leaves all the other organisms in the ecosystem vulnerable, which are essential in the natural functioning of the habitat. In order to preserve the Changbai mountains, more research must be done to gain support and understand how to help the ecosystem, so Chinese law can protect the mountains more effectively.
Global warming has caused the average temperature of the mountains to raise, forcing the cool zones to retreat north dozens of kilometers. The notably cold winters have also become shorter. This has increased the growing season of broad-leaved trees. Pine trees must now compete more for resources, which are already dying off due to the increase in temperature.
Logging has also been a major cause in the loss of forest acres. China has many strict logging laws in their nationally protected parks, but many of the area surrounding them have been extensively logged. As for the mountains on the North Korean side, most of the forests have been cleared for farming and logging purposes. Such major losses to forest land has forced out many of the species of animals that live there as well, that are already under threat.
Hunting in those mountains have caused many animals to become endangered and/or extinct. Two notable animals on the endangered list are the Chinese tree frog and the Siberian tiger. Both animals are known to be economical, leading them to be hunted and poached, almost to the point of extinction. The Siberian tiger population is estimated to be as low as 20 remaining in China.
Many of the locals are unaware of the dangers to the ecosystem in the Changbai mountains. The ecosystem is so economically rich, from the logging of the forests for lumber, goods extracted from the rare animals that bring a hefty price, the land as real estate for the government to clear off and sell, and tourism bringing in millions of foreign dollars that fuel the local governments. The locals enjoy this in flow of money, to where there is little protest against the degrading of the Changbai mountains.
Research on the condition of the Changbai mountains has concluded that people and the government do not understand the impacts on the ecosystem well enough to be able to solve or prevent the damage being done. The Chinese law protecting the Changbai mountains applies to the trees in the forests. This leaves all the other organisms in the ecosystem vulnerable, which are essential in the natural functioning of the habitat. In order to preserve the Changbai mountains, more research must be done to gain support and understand how to help the ecosystem, so Chinese law can protect the mountains more effectively.