Introduction to Deserts and Desertified Regions in China - Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - page 17

6 Conclusions

Deserts in NW China were formed by the climatic influence of the Tibetan Plateau,
Qilian , Kunlun and Tian Shan mountains and the effect of distance from the sea.
Desertification processes, on the other hand, have been mainly influenced by human
factors (Squires et al. 2010 ). Factors such as population growth, unsustainable
economic development, inadequate environmental and ecological awareness, over-
cultivation and rangeland encroachment for cropping productivity and overgrazing
played important roles. Mismanagement of water resources and over exploitation of
ground water leading to a lowering of water tables and salinization/ alkalization
caused widespread desertification (Li and Squires 2010 ;JinandZhu 2010 ).
Deforestation, terrace cropping on slopes and hilly areas as well as oil exploration
and mineral mining have also contributed. All these factors have led to recurrent
movements of sand dunes, sand and dust storms to an extent that settlements, water
bodies, farmlands, road and rail networks can be totally submerged in the sand and
oases area greatly reduced directly or indirectly affecting the economic and social
fabric of the country (Yang et al. 2002 ; Squires and Yang 2010 ).
Fundamental strategies to combat desertification include public awareness rais-
ing, education on combating desertification, consolidation of legal knowledge,
amplification of enforcement of laws, improvement of laws and regulations, en-
hancement of the effects to combat desertification by applying advanced science
and technology and training professional personnel, promotion of sustainable
development through rational utilization of resources and preparation of preferential
policies and increased funding.

Acknowledgements The authors are indebted to Wang Jihe, Xu Xianying, Yang Zihui, Zhang
Fengchun and Zheng Qing Zhong of the Gansu Desert Control Research Institute for sharing
their results and summaries of the experiences gained in Gansu Province and for insights into the
challenges faced in combating desertification in north west China. Professor Lu Qi of the Institute
of Desertification Studies, Beijing is thanked for providing an opportunity for one of us (GH) to
attend the Training Workshop on August 1-Sept. 30, 2006. in WuWei, Gansu and to see at first
hand the achievements of our Chinese colleagues.

References and Further Readings

Carrad B, Douglas M, Squires V (2006) Integrated ecosystem management. In: Proceedings of
international workshop, Beijing, 278 p (In Chinese)

Ci Longjun, Yang X (2010) Desertification and its control in China. Higher Education

Press/Elsevier, Berlin/Heidelberg, 517 p
Dahlberg A (1994) Contesting views and changing paradigms: the land degradation debate in
Southern Africa. Discussion paper 6 Nordiska Afrikainstitutet Uppsala, 87 p
Jin Gui-Li, Zhu Jin-Zhong (2010) Case study 8: Northern Xinjiang. In: Squires V, Xinshi Lu,
Qi Lu, Wang Tao, Youlin Yang (eds) Degradation and recovery in the pastoral lands of China.
CABI, Wallingford, pp 197-215