The unique and complex geography and variable climate of the Tibetan Plateau have produced rich plant resources and distinctive traditional knowledge of plant use, long a focus of scientific attention. Building on earlier surveys, from March to October 2023 the team carried out thematic surveys of plants used for incense offerings (sang), wild vegetables and medicinal plants, ancient tree communities in traditional villages and medicinal plants of the Sherpa, as well as supplementary surveys of plant diversity on the plateau, involving 31 person-trips and 153 survey days in total. More than 1,400 informants were interviewed.

In the thematic survey of wild vegetables and medicinal plants in the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, 336 informants (households) were interviewed, 4,366 use reports were recorded and 59 voucher numbers (118 specimens) were collected. The thematic survey of plants used for sang offerings and folk knowledge of nettles (Urtica) interviewed 459 informants and recorded 3,412 use reports covering 83 plant species. In the survey of ancient tree communities in Rinbung County, 173 informants were interviewed and 200 voucher numbers and 261 experimental samples were collected. In the survey of medicinal plants used by the Sherpa of Chentang, 43 people were interviewed, more than 40 specimens were collected and more than 600 use reports were recorded.

In the survey of plant diversity used by ethnic communities in Rongxia Township, Dingri County, 484 informants were interviewed, 4,399 use reports were recorded and 161 voucher numbers (483 specimens) were collected. In the survey of ethnically used plants and traditional knowledge in Zanda and Rutog counties, Ngari Prefecture, 148 informants were interviewed, 4,400 use reports were recorded and 150 voucher numbers (335 specimens) were collected.

These surveys expanded the data on plant resources and traditional knowledge on the plateau and documented in detail the traditional knowledge and experience of local peoples in using and protecting plants. Distinctive traditional knowledge such as sang offering plants, the protection of ancient tree communities and the use of nettles reflects how local people understand, use and protect plant resources and the environment. The peoples of the Tibetan Plateau possess rich knowledge of food and medicinal plants and of ecological stewardship, which plays an important role in meeting basic needs, maintaining ecological balance, protecting the environment and promoting local economic development. Two papers based on these surveys have been published.