China is going to carry out an integrated scientific investigation on spatial distribution of major geographic resources including vegetation, soil, climate and hydrology in the country’s North-South Transitional Zone, according to a program announced on April 22 in Beijing. 

The five-year program, “Integrated Scientific Investigation of the North-South Transitional Zone of China”, draw the participation of more than 100 geographers from 12 research institutions across China. 

Led by the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR), the program will focuses on multi-disciplinary investigation on vegetation and soil variation sequences along several belt transects cross the Qinling-daba mountains, accurate distribution of forest, farmland, protected areas, as well as spatial distribution and shifting of key climatic indexes. 

The Qinling-daba range, home to four China-specific rare animal species (giant panda, crested Ibis, golden monkey and takin), is the main body of the transitional zone from northern to southern China and also the large-scale ecological corridor connecting the Tibetan Plateau and the east China plain.  

Characterized by high complexity, diversity, heterogeneity and sensibility, the target region plays a significant role in the formation of China’s eco-geographic pattern and the regionalization of terrestrial system. 

However, since 1959, overall systematic study has been absent. Controversies still remain about the geographic position of the local boundary between north and south China, and even about its basic properties. Scientific data available are rather fragmented and regionally limited. 

Started this year, the investigation will cover areas of more than 300,000 square kilometers in China, involving six provinces. An information sharing platform for the investigation results is expected after the program is completed in 2022. 

“This program will lay solid data basis for scientific research and knowledge accumulation of the north-south transitional zone of China,” said SUN Honglie, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, at the launch ceremony of the program.