Abstract:

The Xilinguole Steppe Natural Reserve was set up in August 1985 and designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO/MAB in 1988. Its planning was assessed and compared with the general principles of a biosphere reserve and was found to have several faults in its functional pattern and institutional cooperation, which makes it far from being a fully functioning biosphere reserve.

As regards the functional pattern the author suggests that:

1. In addition to the five core areas for meadow steppe, typical steppe and forests in the reserve, the abundant wetland vegetation and the corresponding wetland ecosystems along the Xilin River and lakes should be taken into account and a core area located in the river′s upstream should therefore be established;

2. Conservative management and environmental monitoring activities could be performed in the core areas;

3. The buffer zone surrounding the Picea meyeri forest core area should be combined with that surrounding the core area of Populus-Betula forest so as to form a broader buffer zone, so that coniferous forests, deciduous broadleave forests, brushwood and meadow steppe landscapes would merge into an entity;

4. Within the transition area effective cooperation amongst various institutions and local pastoralists should be established and enhanced;

As regards the institutional cooperation the followingsuggestions are put forward:

1. To organize a cooperative committee in which meetings can be held by the representatives from the Conservational Pureau,Baiyinxile Livestock Farm and Inner Mongolia Grassland Ecosystem Research Station of Academia Sinica as well as local people;

2. To draw up a master plan which taks into account all the core areas.