Editing Guizhou (section)

== Natural resources ==

=== Water resources ===
Guizhou Province has a large number of rivers, with 984 rivers that are over 10 kilometers long. In 2002, the runoff volume of Guizhou's rivers reached 114.52 billion cubic meters.<ref>{{Cite web |last=道客巴巴 |title=贵州省2002年水资源公报 |url=https://www.doc88.com/p-5743113873196.html |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=www.doc88.com}}</ref> The mountainous characteristics of Guizhou's rivers are evident, with most rivers having broad valleys and gentle water flow in the upper reaches, with small water volume; the middle reaches have alternating tight and open valleys with rapid water flow; the lower reaches have deep and narrow valleys, with large water volume and abundant hydropower resources. The potential of hydropower resources is 18.745 million kilowatts, ranking sixth in China,<ref>{{Cite web |title=水资源公报 |url=http://www.mwr.gov.cn/sj/tjgb/szygb/ |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=www.mwr.gov.cn}}</ref> of which 16.833 million kilowatts are exploitable, accounting for 4.4% of China's total, with many concentrated river sections with large water level drops, and favorable development conditions.

=== Land resources ===
Guizhou Province's land resources are predominantly mountainous and hilly, with relatively few plains. The mountainous area is 108,740 square kilometers, accounting for 61.7% of the total land area of Guizhou Province. The hilly area is 54,197 square kilometers, accounting for 31.1% of the total land area of Guizhou Province. The area of mountainous flatlands is 13,230 square kilometers, only accounting for 7.5% of the total land area of Guizhou Province.<ref>{{Cite web |title=中国地理小知识｜"地无三里平"的贵州 原来没有这个？ {{!}} 人文地理 {{!}} 通识中国 |url=https://www.ourchinastory.com/cn/8220 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=当代中国}}</ref> There is a limited amount of land resources available for agricultural development. Due to the increasing population and the growth of non-agricultural land use, the area of arable land is continuously decreasing. By the end of 2002, the actual area of arable land in Guizhou Province was 17,694 square kilometers, a reduction of 629 square kilometers compared to 2001. The per capita area of arable land is less than 0.05 hectares, which is significantly lower than the national average of China. The proportion of arable land with thick soil layers, high fertility, and good water conditions is low.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lee |first1=Kyo Suk |last2=Lee |first2=Dong Sung |last3=Min |first3=Se Won |last4=Kim |first4=ung Chul |last5=Seo |first5=Il-Hwan |last6=Chung |first6=Doug Young |date=2018-11-30 |title=Spatial Changes and Land Use of Arable Land in China |url=https://www.kjssf.org/articles/xml/ojWj/www.kjssf.org/articles/article/ojWj/ |journal=Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer |language=ko-KR |volume=51 |issue=4 |pages=327–338 |doi=10.7745/KJSSF.2018.51.4.327 |issn=0367-6315|doi-access=free }}</ref>

=== Biological resources ===
[[File:灰背伯劳贵州威宁20080615草海 46.jpg|thumb|alt=A bird photographed at Caohai.|[[Grey-backed shrike]] at Caohai.]]
The border mountains of Guizhou, Guangxi, and Hunan have been identified as one of the eight plant diversity hotspots in China. Guizhou Province is home to 9,982 species of vascular plants (including subspecies and varieties, the same below)，<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Liu |first1=Bo |last2=Zhang |first2=Mei |last3=Bussmann |first3=W. Rainer |last4=Liu |first4=Hui-ming |last5=Liu |first5=Ying-ying |last6=Peng |first6=Yu-de |last7=Zu |first7=Kui-ling |last8=Zhao |first8=Yi-min |last9=Liu |first9=Zheng-bo |last10=Yu |first10=Sheng-xiang |date=2018-10-01 |title=Species richness and conservation gap analysis of karst areas: A case study of vascular plants from Guizhou, China |journal=Global Ecology and Conservation |volume=16 |pages=e00460 |doi=10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00460 |bibcode=2018GEcoC..1600460L |issn=2351-9894|doi-access=free }}</ref> The main ecosystem types include evergreen broad-leaved forest, coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest, and montane elfin forest. more than 700 of which are edible, and over 2,000 that are used for greening, beautification, and for pollution resistance and environmental improvement. Plant species [[endemic]] to this region include ''[[Abies ziyuanensis]]'', ''[[Cathaya argyrophylla]]'', and ''[[Keteleeria pubescens]]，[[Davidia involucrata]], Guizhou [[Cycas revoluta|Cycas]].''<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Zhang | first1 = Y. B. | last2 = Ma | first2 = K. P. | doi = 10.1007/s10531-008-9384-6 | title = Geographic distribution patterns and status assessment of threatened plants in China | journal = Biodiversity and Conservation | volume = 17 | issue = 7 | pages = 1783–1798| year = 2008 | bibcode = 2008BiCon..17.1783Z | s2cid = 25209911 | url = http://ir.ibcas.ac.cn/handle/2S10CLM1/17102 }}</ref> The province is also rich in wildlife resources, with 1,053 species of vertebrates, including 141 mammals, 509 birds, 104 reptiles, 74 amphibians, and 225 fish species.<ref>{{Cite web |last=童思九 |title=Guizhou's biodiversity ranks among top in China |url=https://govt.chinadaily.com.cn/s/202206/27/WS62b9926f498ea2749279bc2a/guizhous-biodiversity-ranks-among-top-in-china.html |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=govt.chinadaily.com.cn |language=en}}</ref> In broad terms, the [[Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau]] is one of the vertebrate diversity hotspots of China. At the level of counties, [[Xingyi, Guizhou|Xingyi]] is one of nine Chinese vertebrate (excluding birds) diversity hotspots.<ref>{{Cite journal| volume = 10| issue = 4| pages = 359–368| last = Chen| first = Yang |author2=An-Ping Chen |author3=Jing-Yun Fang| title = Geographical distribution patterns of endangered fishes, amphibians, reptiles and mammals and their hotspots in China: a study based on "China Red Data Book of Endangered Animals"| journal = Biodiversity Science| year = 2002| doi = 10.17520/biods.2002050| doi-access = free}}</ref> Animals only known from Guizhou include [[Leishan moustache toad]], [[Kuankuoshui salamander]], [[Shuicheng salamander]], [[Guizhou salamander]], and [[Zhijin warty newt]]. {{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

[[Caohai Lake]] with its surroundings is a wetland that is an important overwintering site for many birds. It is a [[Protected areas of China|National Nature Reserve]] and an [[Important Bird Area]] identified by [[BirdLife International]].<ref name=birdlife>{{cite web |url=http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sitefactsheet.php?id=15583 |title=Important Bird Areas factsheet: Cao Hai Nature Reserve |author=BirdLife International |year=2013 |access-date=24 February 2013}}</ref>
Guizhou is one of the four major medicinal material-producing areas in China. The province boasts 4,419 species of medicinal plants and 301 medicinal animals.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Liu |first1=Sizhao |last2=Zhang |first2=Beixi |last3=Lei |first3=Qiyi |last4=Zhou |first4=Jiangju |last5=Ali |first5=Maroof |last6=Long |first6=Chunlin |date=2023-05-30 |title=Diversity and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by Shui people in Southwest China |journal=Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=20 |doi=10.1186/s13002-023-00594-4 |doi-access=free |pmid=37254191 |issn=1746-4269|pmc=10230803 }}</ref> It is famous for its 50 "authentic medicinal materials" known both domestically and internationally. Over 350 types of Chinese medicinal resources have been developed and utilized, with [[Gastrodia elata]], [[Eucommia ulmoides]], [[Coptis chinensis]], [[Tetradium ruticarpum|Evodia rutaecarpa]], and [[Dendrobium]] being the five famous medicinal materials of Guizhou.

=== Mineral resources ===
Guizhou Province is rich in [[mineral resources]] and is a major province for mineral resources. More than 110 types of minerals have been discovered, among which 76 types have identified reserves.<ref>{{Cite web |last=关晓萌 |title=Guizhou lawmakers focus on mineral resources |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202403/09/WS65eb9c08a31082fc043bb9b4.html |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref> Several have proven reserves that rank at the forefront nationwide. 
Those ranking first include [[Mercury (element)|mercury]], [[Baryte|barite]], fertilizer [[sandstone]], [[Metallurgy|metallurgical]] sandstone, decorative [[diabase]], and brick and tile sandstone, etc. Those ranking second include [[phosphorus]], [[bauxite]], [[Rare-earth element|rare earths]], etc.; those ranking third include [[magnesium]], [[manganese]], [[gallium]], etc. In addition, [[coal]], [[antimony]], gold, [[pyrite]], and other minerals hold significant positions in China. Coal reserves are substantial, with a complete range of coal types and excellent coal quality, with proven reserves at the end of 2002 being 49.227 billion tons; bauxite proven reserves are 424 million tons; phosphate rock reserves are 2.695 billion tons, accounting for over 40% of the national total; barite reserves account for one-third of the country's total; gold reserves rank twelfth in the nation, making it an emerging base for gold production in China.