Ecological problem identification and restoration strategy based on the mountain–water–forest–field–lake–grass–sand life community concept in Taohe River Watershed, Gannan, China

The Taohe River Watershed within Gannan Prefecture is an important ecological security barrier for the main functional areas of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. As such, accurate identification of environmental problems of this watershed and proposed targeted restoration strategies are practical needs for the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin. Based on field research and related data, we identified existing ecological and environmental problems in the Taohe River Basin in Gannan. We then analyzed the natural, social, and economic causes thereof. The data were used to propose corresponding repair measures. Soil erosion, mine environment destruction, grassland degradation and desertification, wetland shrinkage, forest resource destruction, and low quality of cultivated land are the current major ecological and environmental problems in the region. The present results revealed that the most prominent ecological and environmental problems in this area are soil erosion and the destruction of the mine environment due to the unique geographical environment and excessive development and utilization of natural resources in the early stage. To solve the main ecological problems, five ecological restoration units were allocated and four ecological restoration models (natural restoration, protection and conservation, auxiliary regeneration, and ecological remodeling and protection) were established. These were based on the integrated ecological restoration concept of “repairing mountains and expanding forests, adjusting fields and saving water, protecting grasses and sands, replenishing water for afforestation, and protecting lakes an waters”. Simultaneously, combined with the key deployment projects of ecological protection and restoration, a regional ecological protection and restoration strategy with water conservation as the core was proposed. The data provide a reference for the ecological restoration of mountain–water–forest–field–lake–grass–sand in the Taohe River Watershed in Gannan. The data will also inform efforts to promote the effective implementation of ecological protection and restoration projects in Gannan Prefecture.