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Today • China Scale & isolation Physical environments Agriculture © T. M. Whitmore 60 Exam 2 Score Distribution; Average = 77% 51 51 50 40 31 30 20 15 10 6 0 90%s (>=128) 80%s (112-124) 70%s (100-108) 60%s (84-96) <60% (<= 80) © T. M. Whitmore Exciting new joint UG degree program • At the National University of Singapore • A top 20 ranked university internationally Language of instruction is English http://www.nus.edu.sg/ Eligible UNC undergraduates Economics, English literature, geography, history and political science Can take 2-4 semesters of classes at NUS and earn diplomas from both universities. http://studyabroad.unc.edu/nusjdp/index.cfm © T. M. Whitmore China: physical environment I • China – huge ~ US with Alaska • 3 regions (1st 2 in Central Asia region) “Outer” China Himalaya mountains and Tibetan plateau to the Southwest –Source of many rivers Gobi & Taklamakan deserts to the west and Northwest “Inner” China Isolated by mountains and deserts © T. M. Whitmore China “proper” • Physical Environment • Climate Drier N wetter S China sub-regions Northeast China Plain / Manchuria The N. China Plain – Huang He river (formally Yellow) Basins of the Chang Jiang (formally Yangtze) river Tropical southern China Environmental degradation and hazards © T. M. Whitmore • • • • Chinese Rivers Huang He (Yellow River) Can carry up to 40% sediment weight (highest in the world). Subject to flooding, especially in its delta. Changed course many times. Chang Jiang (Yangtze). Longest river, China’s main street (6,300 km). Flood of 1998 left 14 million homeless. Pearl River delta system Most productive and sustainable ecosystem in the world. Rice paddies and fish ponds. Heilong Jiang (Amur). © T. M. Whitmore China's border with Russia. Amur Huang He (Yellow) Chang Jiang (Yangtze) A series of long canals, some new and others ancient, transfers water from the wet Yangtze basin to the dry north. Manchuria N China Plain N China Plain rivers Filled with sediment from the Loess Plateau, the Yellow River has changed course many times in Chinese history, each time killing and displacing millions. Back to rivers South China Back to rivers © Bret Wallach Loess soils in the Guangzhong Basin http://www.greatmirror.com/ Chinese Agriculture • Major issues • Huge population Little arable area Population is about 70% rural 4 Agricultural Regions NE / Manchuria North China Plain- wheat South China - rice Western oases and arid-semiarid © T. M. Whitmore grazing Wheat & other upland crops Wetland Rice © Bret Wallach Guangzhong Basin Guilin © Bret Wallach Guilin © Bret Wallach Yunnan Village: Hengdi © Bret Wallach Chinese agriculture II • Agriculture reform Pre-Communist (pre-1949) Communist changes Current reforms © T. M. Whitmore Chinese agriculture III • Nearly self sufficient despite 1.3 billion • Agriculture is very intensive 10 persons to feed per ha • Urban pops increasing and so is wealth => demand increasing faster than pop growth • Significant imports but also significant exports © T. M. Whitmore 40% of agricultural land in China is irrigated. Wheat & other upland crops Wetland Rice © Peter Menzel Rural Chinese family’s week’s food Urban Chinese family’s week’s food 250 Yield (kg / hectare) 60,000 Permanent crops (1,000 hectares) Production (tons) 50,000 200 150 40,000 30,000 100 20,000 50 10,000 RICE 2003 2001 1999 1997 1995 1993 1991 1989 1987 1985 1983 1981 1979 1977 1975 1973 1971 1969 1967 1965 1963 0 1961 0 Millions 70,000 140 Yield (kg / hectare) 40,000 120 Production (tons) 35,000 100 30,000 25,000 80 20,000 60 15,000 40 10,000 20 5,000 WHEAT 2003 2001 1999 1997 1995 1993 1991 1989 1987 1985 1983 1981 1979 1977 1975 1973 1971 1969 1967 1965 1963 0 1961 0 Millions 45,000 © Bret Wallach Guangzhong Basin © Bret Wallach Guangzhong Basin