Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Astragalus
adsurgens,
Ulmus
pumila,
Hippophae
rhamnoides.
Haloxylon
ammodendron, Calligonum mongolicum.
Transplanted seedlings, direct sowing, use of cuttings, and air seeding techniques
were used for greening areas degraded by wind and water erosion. Different
models have been applied for protecting agricultural areas, Cities, transportation
routes (highways, railways and roads) industrial infrastructure or mining sites
and water storage reservoirs. Some successful models which have been employed
are: Shelter forest system in oases, shelter system for sand fixation at agricultural
areas, transportation, industrial sites or mines and reservoirs.
Keywords China • Desert • Biological methods • Plant species • Aerial
seeding • Transport corridors • Land use • Shelter forest • Mining sites • Plastic
mulching • Nursery
1
Introduction
The Chinese people are unremitting in their efforts to struggle against the adverse
effects of desert encroachment and desertification. Some available measures to
fix shifting sands in the different regions have been created by Chinese scientists
through the successive implementation in such major ecology restoration projects
as the Three North Regions Shelterbelt Construction Project, including the “Great
Green Wall” project involving integrated shelterbelts extending over thousands of
km (Fig. 3.1 ) and the National Action Program to Combat Desertification.
Effective progress in the aspects of re-vegetation, rangeland improvement and
soil and water conservation have been made in the affected areas. Some acceptable
and practical techniques, successful demonstrations and rich experiences as well
as extension service models to combat desertification and manage dry lands have
been developed at community, local and national levels. For instance, the techniques
of dune fixation and sand stabilization with biological and mechanical measures
along railways, highway and at mining facilities have been created. The techniques
of aerial-seeding of bushes and grasses to re-vegetate shifting sand lands were
used. The technical measure of rice cultivation with under-soil plastic mulching in
dune areas and countermeasures to implement integrated management of watershed
were also applied. The traditional skill of rational rotation grazing system with
determination of rangeland quality and carrying capacity were employed. The
approaches to develop fodder farms and high efficiency grazing land and raise public
awareness of the benefits of feeding livestock in pens/sheds and the development of
eco-farms as a means of improving vegetation cover. According to the demand of
the development of the national economy of China, appropriate balance should be
kept among agriculture, forestry and pasture. The arrangement of the tree plantation
generally does not affect grass and shrub vegetation on rangelands, so they should
arrange afforestation according to the technical requirement, while minimizing
impact on the croplands and rangelands.
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