. Bonner zoologische Monographien. Zoology. 34 the Himalayas is in Nepal, including the far northern sections of the upper Kali Gandaki (:Mustang; ) and parts of the northern Dolpo. Here closed plant cover persists only as relicts depending mainly on precipitation, which is only minimal here: that is. the dis- tribution results largely from aridity. Nowhere do the climatic conditions permit the exis- tence of woody plants, to say nothing of (potential) stands of Betida and Pinns. The region is locally important for the existence of Snowfmches (MontifringiUa adanisi. M. taczanowskii, Pyrg
. Bonner zoologische Monographien. Zoology. 34 the Himalayas is in Nepal, including the far northern sections of the upper Kali Gandaki (:Mustang; ) and parts of the northern Dolpo. Here closed plant cover persists only as relicts depending mainly on precipitation, which is only minimal here: that is. the dis- tribution results largely from aridity. Nowhere do the climatic conditions permit the exis- tence of woody plants, to say nothing of (potential) stands of Betida and Pinns. The region is locally important for the existence of Snowfmches (MontifringiUa adanisi. M. taczanowskii, Pyrgilauda blanfordi, P. ruficoUis), which are closeh^ associated with mouse hares (Ochotona). Oenandie deserti also lives there. Man's impact on vegetation The vegetational subdivisions of the central Himala\ as described in the preceding sections are not now entirely natural. Humans ha\'e li\-ed in the Himalayas for a long time, produ- cing a montane agricultural landscape (Miehe 1991). Farmers must always create their fields at the expense of forest cover, and in the Himalayas they have used a variety of methods to do so. Burning is probably the most ancient way to obtain pastures and land for crops, foliage has been cut from trees to feed hvestock (). logging has provided firewood and building material and these are only the major factors in the disappearance of forests (Martens 1981. 1983, Schweinfurth 1983. Schmidt-Vogt 1990. Miehe 1991). From a zoo- logical viewpoint it is important to know the extent to which human activities have so far affected the forest vegetation and whether the continuity of bird life has already suffered. : hmer Himalayas. Upper Kali Gandaki Valley, barren slopes, partly teiTaced. Dzong \ illage bet- ween Kagbeni and Muktinath. 3600m, Mustang Distr. J- Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrat
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