Grazing intensity and human activity intensity datasets on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during 1990–2015

As the “third pole” of the world, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) is extremely ecologically sensitive and fragile while facing increasing human activities and overgrazing. In this study, livestock data from the statistical yearbook were transformed to 1 km grazing intensity raster data by integrating the net primary productivity (NPP) data for 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. Further, the human activity intensity (HAI) data at 1 km resolution were evaluated by the entropy weight method, which applied eight types of spatial data, including grazing intensity, Night-Time Light, population density, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) density, the ratio of cultivated land, distance to road, distance to town, and the slope of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Also, the five-year interval human activity intensity data from 1990 to 2015 were made on the QTP. By preparing the historical spatial datasets of grazing intensity and human activity intensity, our study will help to explore the influence of human disturbance on the alpine ecosystems on the QTP and provide effective support for decision-making of government aiming at regional ecosystem management and sustainable development.