Introduction to Deserts and Desertified Regions in China - Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - page 15

also responsible for the inter-cooperation and coordination among ministries and
governmental administrative agencies for sound implementation of the National
Action Programs to Combat Desertification.
Since the 1990s, the NAP to Combat Desertification (NAP) and the Three North
Region Shelter Belt Development Project have brought more than 16 million ha of
farmland and 10 million ha of rangeland under effective protection. Despite the great
progress in combating desertification, great challenges remain. Desertification has
become a bottleneck for the social and economic development and improvement
of the local population living standards in the affected regions. Thus combating
desertification in China is of great and far-reaching significance. It is a must not
only for sustainable social and economic development within the country, but also
for improvement of the regional and global environment (Lu et al. 2005a , b ,Wang
et al. 2012 ).

• Main Projects in the National Action Programs to Combat Desertification :

According to the ecological requirements of the sustainable development strat-
egy, China has emphasized her efforts on a significant number of projects to
combat desertification whereby the following principles will be applied:

- Priority be given to protective measures,

- Techniques adopted should be suitable to local conditions,

- Management of key projects be rationalized,

- Implementation of projects be divided into phases with an appropriate time

frame,

- Supervising and monitoring be strengthened and

- Great attention is paid to cost/benefit.

Desertification combating is a long and difficult task dealing with multi-
disciplinary studies and engineering fields. Along with the domestic efforts to
combat desertification, the Chinese Government is anxious to cooperate with
international organizations. It is also ready to work together with all countries. China
also would like to share her scientific results and practical experiences to combat
desertification with the world. China is willing to cooperate with international
societies through bilateral and multilateral channel, to get financial assistance if it is
available (Box 1.1 ).

Box 1.1: Examples of International Collaborative Efforts to Combat
Desertification (Source: Wang Jihe (2006, personal communication))

UNDP Science and Technology Fund Project: in 1988, it provided China a
set of advanced drip-irrigation equipment from Israel. The implementation of
this project found a new way for the water-saving irrigation in desert areas.

(continued)