Tibetan and Chinese Editions of Across the Tibetan Plateau Released in Beijing

BEIJING, CHINA –   The Chinese and Tibetan versions of Across the Tibetan Plateau: Ecosystems, Wildlife, and Conservation were officially released in Beijing on January 14, 2009, with a book launch hosted by Future Generations China and the Science and Technology Department of the Tibet Autonomous Region. The Tibetan version is published by the China Tibetology Publishers and copies will be donated to schools across the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), starting with 1,000 books from the first printing.  

The Chinese version is by the Shanghai Far East Publishers and will be available throughout China. The book was first published in English in 2007 by W.W. Norton.

Across the Tibetan Plateau documents the region’s rare and diverse ecology as well as the success of community and government partnerships to protect 40% of Tibet’s land area. It brings together three American, Chinese and Tibetan authors to take the reader on a journey across Tibet’s stunning landscape with satellite imagery and 200 exquisite color photographs. Certain photographs, such as of a newborn Tibetan antelope and the elusive red ghorral, are among the first ever taken of the species.

"The book Across the Tibetan Plateau provides people with a deeper understanding of the Tibetan people and their beautiful land,” said Dorje Tsering, the Director of the Finance and Economics Committee of the National People's Congress of the TAR and the former Party Secretary of the TAR Department of Science and Technology. “People will realize that protecting the natural resources of this region is important not only for Tibet's ecosystems and biological diversity, but is also significant for environmental protection work worldwide."

"Across the Tibetan Plateau is a book that reflects the extensive development of protected areas in Tibet over the past few decades, in large part thanks to the tremendous energy of the Chinese government and the TAR government, as well as the forward-thinking willingness at all levels of government to create positive partnerships with international conservation groups,” said Lhagpa Phunthogs, Director General of the China Tibetology Research Center. “It is my hope that this book will inspire further steps in sustainable development, draw international attention to the region, and ensure that Tibet’s natural environment is protected forever.”

“This book describes an incredible conservation effort in Tibet,” said Dr. Daniel Taylor, President of Future Generations. “In just 20 years, a unique partnership between government, Future Generations and local people has led to accomplishments such as the establishment of the Qomolanga (Mt. Everest) National Nature Preserve and the ban on the sale of endangered animals skins.”

Together with the TAR Department of Science and Technology, Future Generations is currently working to protect the Four Great Rivers region, which encompasses the upper drainages of the Brahmaputra, Salween, Yangtze and Mekong rivers and has downstream ramifications for over 1 billion people in eight countries.

For more information contact:     

Beijing
Future Generations/China
Joanna Wong, Communications Manager
Email: jwong.glm@gmail.com, Cell: 15810708207

U.S.A.
Future Generations
Traci Hickson, Director of Communications
Email. traci@future.org Ph: 304.358.2000

About the Authors: Robert L. Fleming Jr. is professor of equity and empowerment at Future Generations and a leading Himalayan natural historian. Dorje Tsering is a scholar and the former Party Secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region Department of Science and Technology. Liu Wulin, the Director of the Tibet Forestry Research and Planning Institute, grew up in Tibet and has been conducting research and fieldwork in the region for twenty years.