The Kunlun is one of the most extensive of the high mountain ranges of the world. Located on the northern border of the Tibetan Plateau and sandwiched between warm temperate desert and Tibetan alpine desert, it has developed a special geoecological structure: patches of montane coniferous forest; coexistence of three types of desert at different altitudes; extensive distribution of montane desert; the high cold-arid core of the Tibetan Plateau, to list only a few of the major components. Reform of the grazing system is essential if sustainable development of these mountains is to be achieved. A nature reserve is proposed for the Uytag area in order to protect the rare montane forests of this section of the Kunlun. The mountains are closely interrelated to oases on the downstream piedmont plains; many aspects of their resources, ecology, economy, and administration form a remarkable highland-lowland interactive system. The mountains and plains must be considered together as a unit if any effective policy for sustainable mountain development is to be realized. This theme is closely related to the main recommendations contained in Chapter 13 of Agenda 21, the main publication of the Rio de Janeiro (UNCED) Earth Summit of 1992.