Research On The Priority Protection Area Of Rare,Endangered,and Endemic Birds On The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

China is one of the countries with the most bird species in the world, and among these species are many rare, endangered and endemic ones. The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is the world’s largest plateau, which is called the "Third Pole of the World" and "the Roof of the World". The special location and the complex climate of the plateau have created a unique biodiversity. Birds are an important component of the ecological system and a sensitive species to the health condition of the ecological system. Therefore, the priority in bird protection is an indispensable part of biological diversity protection.In this research109rare, endangered and endemic bird species are selected on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Based on SCP, GAP and other internationally advanced biodiversity protection and planning methods, the research analyzes the condition of regional biodiversity on the Plateau, and, with the study of the38completed national nature reserves, analyzes the gap in the protection. The results show that the priority protection area for rare, endangered and endemic birds on the Plateau covers84921km2, which is3.15%of the total area of the Plateau. Among this area the high-value protection area is12309km2, which accounts for14.49%of the total area with protection value; the general-value protection area is72612km, which accounts for85.50%of the total area with protection value. The high-value protection area is mainly distributed over Min Mountain hinterland and Qionglai mountain chain; the general-value protection area is distributed over the middle piece of Kunlun Mountain and the northern part of the Kalakunlun mountain pass, Three River Headwater hinterland, the southern part of Gongga Mountain, the valley in Hengduan Mountains in eastern Tibet, Damala Mountain and Ningjing Mountains hinterland, the Min Mountain hinterland at the southern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the southeastern hinterland of Hengduan Mountains. The analyses of protection gap show that the main gap lies in the8areas of Min Mountain hinterland, Qionglai mountain chain, the middle piece of Kunlun Mountain and the northern part of the Kalakunlun mountain pass, Three River Headwater hinterland, the southern part of Gongga Mountain, the valley in Hengduan Mountains in eastern Tibet, Damala Mountain and Ningjing Mountains hinterland, and the southern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The gap constitutes80.56%of the total area of high protection value.It is also found in the research that the distribution of the nature reserves is not proper. With the reserves unconnected with corridors, the protection net could not work well. Finally, the paper has some discussions based on research results, the use of software, and the preparation of data and suggests increased efforts in protecting high-value protection areas, the adjustment of the size, function distribution, and distribution patterns of existing reserves, the establishment of new reserves in key areas, upgrading provincial reserves to national reserves, and carrying out research on inter-reserve corridors. The research has enriched the theory and practice in systematic protection and planning, provided a quantitative method for the planning work in the protection of biological communities and species, and provided scientific basis for the country’s planning of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau bio-diversity protection and for the government departments’protection policy-making.