The vast plateau encompasses many types of habitat including alpine steppe, shrub meadows, semi-desert, conifer forest, sub-alpine meadow, mixed forests and arid steppe. The habitats vary according to geographical height and the amount of rainfall each region receives.
Despite the hostile conditions of the Tibetan Plateau, there are people who live there all year round. Lowland areas with higher levels of rainfall can support agricultural practices, while small groups of people living at higher altitudes tend to be nomadic.
Alpine species of plants thrive on the Tibetan plateau and are host to many animals found nowhere else. Plateau animals include the Tibetan wild ass, wild yak, snow leopards, saker falcon, blue sheep and Tibetan antelope. Poaching has endangered many of these animals.
