The Research Center for Plateau Ecology, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), was founded in 1999. Its predecessors were the former Ecology Research Room, Plant Research Room and Animal Research Room of the Biology Institute of Qinghai Plateau. Currently the center has a total of 37 staff members. Among them are 1 CAS Academician, 10 research professors, 14 associate professors as well as 12 assistant researchers or technical supporters. Also, there are 2 CAS “One-Hundred Talents” recipients and 7 visiting professors in the center.
The main research areas include adaptation and evolution of plateau biota; formation mechanisms of biodiversity in the plateau; contemporary epigenetic processes and systematic stability of alpine grassland ecosystem; experiment and demonstration as well as strategic researches for sustainable development of alpine grassland ecosystem. The research aims are to enrich theories of plateau ecology and to provide theoretical basis and technical support for harmonious development between human and the nature in related regions.
The center has three research platforms: the Haibei Alpine Grassland Ecosystem Research Station, the Three River Source Region Alpine Grassland Ecosystem Research Station, and the Key Laboratory of Restoration Ecology for Cold Regions in Qinghai.
Since 2002, the center has made great achievement in obtaining research grants from the Science and Technology Ministry, the CAS, the Natural Science Foundation and local government foundations. There are at present in processing 2 special subjects of National Basic Research Program (973), 3 National Project of Scientific and Technical Supporting Programs, 1 CAS Action-plan for West Development, 29 General Programs of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, 3 ‘Hope of the West China’ of CAS, 10 international cooperation projects and also 105 other provincial or ministry level projects. The total arrival of the funds is over 50 million Yuan.