Aiming respectively at the two problems in desertiflcation areas, namely water shortage and serious soil erosion, the polymer materials for combating desertiflcation may be classified as water absorbing-retaining poly...Aiming respectively at the two problems in desertiflcation areas, namely water shortage and serious soil erosion, the polymer materials for combating desertiflcation may be classified as water absorbing-retaining polymers (WARPs) and sandy soil stabilizing polymers (SSSPs). Their further classifications and current researcfl situations were introduced. It is suggested that the major hindrancefor their wide appHcation is the high cost. The authors' newest research resuits on cutting cost and enhancing ef...展开更多
Distribution of desertification climate types in China was analyzed using Thornthwaite's method on calculating potential evapotranspiration (PE), according to the definition provided by the United Nations Conventi...Distribution of desertification climate types in China was analyzed using Thornthwaite's method on calculating potential evapotranspiration (PE), according to the definition provided by the United Nations Convention, by employing meteorological records from 1864 stations in China. The annual PE and the humidity indices were calculated for every station, based on which a distribution map of HI was constructed. The potential range of desertification in China was obtained for the first time, about 3.32 million km2 and makes up about 34.6 percent of the country. The distribution map of HI was compared with the vegetation map of China and the precipitation map of China respectively. In eastern and northern China, the distribution of climate types is basically acceptable, but for QinghaiTibetan Plateau, where Thornthwaite's method on calculating PE is not quite suitable, the isopleths are deviated to the northern side and the potential range of desertification is smaller than expected.展开更多
Mauritania, located in the Western Sahara, is one of the least developed countries in the Sahara Desert. Its capital, Nouakchott, which is home to 23% of its population, suffers from soil erosion from the Sahara and s...Mauritania, located in the Western Sahara, is one of the least developed countries in the Sahara Desert. Its capital, Nouakchott, which is home to 23% of its population, suffers from soil erosion from the Sahara and saltwater intrusion from the Atlantic Ocean. The local environment is under pressure from the combined effects of climate and socio-economic factors, with desertification being recognized as the greatest threat to life. In this context, high-resolution remote sensing images of Nouakchott obtained during the winters of 1985, 1988, 2000, 2006, and 2010 are selected for interpretation and classification. Analysis of the types of desertification and land use reveals the temporal and spatial characteristics of five distinct time periods from 1985 to 2010. This study analyzes the current status of desertification in Nouakchott and suggests five preventive measures.展开更多
Global economic development and increasing human activities have brought great challenges to fragile ecosystems.In order to avoid,reduce,and reverse desertification,Chinese and foreign scientists and ecological govern...Global economic development and increasing human activities have brought great challenges to fragile ecosystems.In order to avoid,reduce,and reverse desertification,Chinese and foreign scientists and ecological governance institutions have developed a series of ecological restoration technologies(ERTs)and models in the past few decades.These technologies can improve residents’livelihoods,strengthen disaster resilience,and launch a comprehensive review of degraded ecosystems in desertification regions.However,some studies and practices have limited the selection and promotion of good technologies and the assessments of these technologies,resulting in the waste and loss of funds and manpower.The objective of this study is to identify desertification control and restoration technologies and models,summarize the evolutionary features and trends of these technologies under different natural conditions,and evaluate the various ERTs that are now available.The data sources of this study include the databases of international organizations,CNKI,related literature and reports,and questionnaires from institutions and experts.First,the three stages of ERTs evolution were summarized,and the key events and social-economic developments were identified as the driving forces of evolution.Then,the four categories of ERTs were identified as biological,engineering,agricultural,and management ERTs.Finally,the key ERTs were evaluated in the five dimensions of the degree of difficulty,the degree of maturity,effectiveness,suitability,and potential for transfer.The management ERTs scores for the degree of difficulty,the degree of maturity,and potential for transfer are higher.This study provides a reference for adapting to local conditions,the comprehensive management,rational development,and utilization of dryland resources,improving the application of ecological technologies,and promoting the export and import of the excellent technologies.展开更多
The Great Green Wall(GGW)initiatives are among the most ambitious endeavors in addressing global ecological challenges.Currently two prominent examples have emerged across two transcontinental arid landscapes.One is C...The Great Green Wall(GGW)initiatives are among the most ambitious endeavors in addressing global ecological challenges.Currently two prominent examples have emerged across two transcontinental arid landscapes.One is China's“Three-North Shelterbelt Program”,which formally began in 1978.Spanning 13 provinces,it aims to combat desertification in the north and northwestern regions of the country,where8 major deserts and 4 sandy lands are located,by restoring forest and grass cover and establishing a protective shelterbelt system(Zhu and Song,2021).展开更多
Soil erosion by water poses major environmental challenges to the European viticulture sector.Biochar is recognised as a sustainable tool for combating land degradation,but few studies on the effect of biochar on soil...Soil erosion by water poses major environmental challenges to the European viticulture sector.Biochar is recognised as a sustainable tool for combating land degradation,but few studies on the effect of biochar on soil erosion have been conducted in Mediterranean vineyards with hilly terrain and heavy rainfall.This study assesses the potential of biochar to support soil conservation by enhancing sponge function,i.e.water retention and infiltration,and reducing erodibility in sloping sandy loam soil under natural rainfall conditions.An 18-month outdoor box lysimeter experiment was conducted using bare soil,including soil amended with 4%(w/w)biochar from a Portuguese vineyard.Over the monitoring period,biochar application significantly(p<0.001)reduced the runoff coefficient by an average of 45%.Biochar reduced coarse fragment erosion by 67%,fine-earth erosion by 43%,and splash erosion by 34%,all affected(p<0.05)by rainfall intensity.The erosion rate in vineyard soil was 3 times lower(p<0.001)in biocharamended soil than in the control(3.7 vs.11.1 t ha^(-1)yr^(-1)).Improved soil structure led to a 7%reduction in bulk density,an average increase of 73%in stored water,and a 28%increase in infiltration.During drier periods,the biocharamended soil stored 171–303%more water than the control soil.We recommend a minimum monitoring period of a full hydrological cycle under natural rainfall to comprehensively capture the effect of biochar on the soil sponge function.Observed seasonal trends and atmospheric river(AR)events suggest that studies using rainfall simulations without considering antecedent soil moisture and AR variations will yield skewed data on effects.From a practical standpoint,this study showed that biochar could be a sustainable soil management solution to enhancing long-term vineyard resilience and productivity in the Mediterranean.展开更多
Can deserts be transformed into resources, into assets, and further into cash? It is necessary to scientifically assess desert ecological assets and incorporate them into the national economic accounting system and th...Can deserts be transformed into resources, into assets, and further into cash? It is necessary to scientifically assess desert ecological assets and incorporate them into the national economic accounting system and the current evaluation system for socio-economic development. This study will provide a scientific basis and robust data for establishing a target system that is compatible with both ecological civilization and an associated reward and punishment mechanism, as well as for designing and implementing effective compensation policies for desert ecosystems. This paper first defines desert ecological assets, and then develops a framework for assessing them based on the evaluation of desert ecological resources and desert ecosystem services. This framework paves the foundation for quantitatively assessing desert ecological assets and preparing balance sheets of desert ecological assets. Finally, this paper analyzes current policies relating to desert ecological compensation, discusses how to design compensation policies based on assessment of desert ecological assets, and puts forward suggestions for improving current policies.展开更多
基金Supported by the Fund of National High-tech R&D Program (Project No 2001AA242043)
文摘Aiming respectively at the two problems in desertiflcation areas, namely water shortage and serious soil erosion, the polymer materials for combating desertiflcation may be classified as water absorbing-retaining polymers (WARPs) and sandy soil stabilizing polymers (SSSPs). Their further classifications and current researcfl situations were introduced. It is suggested that the major hindrancefor their wide appHcation is the high cost. The authors' newest research resuits on cutting cost and enhancing ef...
文摘Distribution of desertification climate types in China was analyzed using Thornthwaite's method on calculating potential evapotranspiration (PE), according to the definition provided by the United Nations Convention, by employing meteorological records from 1864 stations in China. The annual PE and the humidity indices were calculated for every station, based on which a distribution map of HI was constructed. The potential range of desertification in China was obtained for the first time, about 3.32 million km2 and makes up about 34.6 percent of the country. The distribution map of HI was compared with the vegetation map of China and the precipitation map of China respectively. In eastern and northern China, the distribution of climate types is basically acceptable, but for QinghaiTibetan Plateau, where Thornthwaite's method on calculating PE is not quite suitable, the isopleths are deviated to the northern side and the potential range of desertification is smaller than expected.
基金Chinese Academy of Sciences(2017-XBQNXZ-B-018)Science and Technology Partnership Program,Ministry of Science and Technology of China(KY201702010)China–Africa Joint Research Centre Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(SAJC201610)
文摘Mauritania, located in the Western Sahara, is one of the least developed countries in the Sahara Desert. Its capital, Nouakchott, which is home to 23% of its population, suffers from soil erosion from the Sahara and saltwater intrusion from the Atlantic Ocean. The local environment is under pressure from the combined effects of climate and socio-economic factors, with desertification being recognized as the greatest threat to life. In this context, high-resolution remote sensing images of Nouakchott obtained during the winters of 1985, 1988, 2000, 2006, and 2010 are selected for interpretation and classification. Analysis of the types of desertification and land use reveals the temporal and spatial characteristics of five distinct time periods from 1985 to 2010. This study analyzes the current status of desertification in Nouakchott and suggests five preventive measures.
基金The National Science Fundation of China(41977421)The National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFC0503700)。
文摘Global economic development and increasing human activities have brought great challenges to fragile ecosystems.In order to avoid,reduce,and reverse desertification,Chinese and foreign scientists and ecological governance institutions have developed a series of ecological restoration technologies(ERTs)and models in the past few decades.These technologies can improve residents’livelihoods,strengthen disaster resilience,and launch a comprehensive review of degraded ecosystems in desertification regions.However,some studies and practices have limited the selection and promotion of good technologies and the assessments of these technologies,resulting in the waste and loss of funds and manpower.The objective of this study is to identify desertification control and restoration technologies and models,summarize the evolutionary features and trends of these technologies under different natural conditions,and evaluate the various ERTs that are now available.The data sources of this study include the databases of international organizations,CNKI,related literature and reports,and questionnaires from institutions and experts.First,the three stages of ERTs evolution were summarized,and the key events and social-economic developments were identified as the driving forces of evolution.Then,the four categories of ERTs were identified as biological,engineering,agricultural,and management ERTs.Finally,the key ERTs were evaluated in the five dimensions of the degree of difficulty,the degree of maturity,effectiveness,suitability,and potential for transfer.The management ERTs scores for the degree of difficulty,the degree of maturity,and potential for transfer are higher.This study provides a reference for adapting to local conditions,the comprehensive management,rational development,and utilization of dryland resources,improving the application of ecological technologies,and promoting the export and import of the excellent technologies.
基金supported by the Science&Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program(Grant No.2022FY202300)the Innovative Research Program of the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals(Grant No.CBAS2022IRP07)。
文摘The Great Green Wall(GGW)initiatives are among the most ambitious endeavors in addressing global ecological challenges.Currently two prominent examples have emerged across two transcontinental arid landscapes.One is China's“Three-North Shelterbelt Program”,which formally began in 1978.Spanning 13 provinces,it aims to combat desertification in the north and northwestern regions of the country,where8 major deserts and 4 sandy lands are located,by restoring forest and grass cover and establishing a protective shelterbelt system(Zhu and Song,2021).
基金support to UID Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e Mar(CESAM)+LA/P/0094/2020,through national funds.We further acknowledge FCT for the funding of projects SOILCOMBAT,TRUESOIL(https://doi.org/10.54499/PTDC/EAM-AMB/0474/2020https://doi.org/10.54499/EJPSo ils/0001/2021),and SOILSPONGE project no 16808(COMPETE2030-FEDER-00799200)as well as of authors B.Gholamahmadi(https://doi.org/10.54499/2020.04610.BD)(WATERDESERT,PhD thesis),F.Verheijen(https://doi.org/10.54499/2023.06689.CEECI ND/CP2840/CT0011),A.C.Bastos(https://doi.org/10.54499/DL57/2016/CP1482/CT0006)and C.Ferreira。
文摘Soil erosion by water poses major environmental challenges to the European viticulture sector.Biochar is recognised as a sustainable tool for combating land degradation,but few studies on the effect of biochar on soil erosion have been conducted in Mediterranean vineyards with hilly terrain and heavy rainfall.This study assesses the potential of biochar to support soil conservation by enhancing sponge function,i.e.water retention and infiltration,and reducing erodibility in sloping sandy loam soil under natural rainfall conditions.An 18-month outdoor box lysimeter experiment was conducted using bare soil,including soil amended with 4%(w/w)biochar from a Portuguese vineyard.Over the monitoring period,biochar application significantly(p<0.001)reduced the runoff coefficient by an average of 45%.Biochar reduced coarse fragment erosion by 67%,fine-earth erosion by 43%,and splash erosion by 34%,all affected(p<0.05)by rainfall intensity.The erosion rate in vineyard soil was 3 times lower(p<0.001)in biocharamended soil than in the control(3.7 vs.11.1 t ha^(-1)yr^(-1)).Improved soil structure led to a 7%reduction in bulk density,an average increase of 73%in stored water,and a 28%increase in infiltration.During drier periods,the biocharamended soil stored 171–303%more water than the control soil.We recommend a minimum monitoring period of a full hydrological cycle under natural rainfall to comprehensively capture the effect of biochar on the soil sponge function.Observed seasonal trends and atmospheric river(AR)events suggest that studies using rainfall simulations without considering antecedent soil moisture and AR variations will yield skewed data on effects.From a practical standpoint,this study showed that biochar could be a sustainable soil management solution to enhancing long-term vineyard resilience and productivity in the Mediterranean.
基金The projects from Chinese Academy of Forestry(CAFYBB2017MC006)The Institute of Desertification Studies of Chinese Academy of Forestry(IDS2017 JY-1)State Forestry Administration(2017-LY-133)
文摘Can deserts be transformed into resources, into assets, and further into cash? It is necessary to scientifically assess desert ecological assets and incorporate them into the national economic accounting system and the current evaluation system for socio-economic development. This study will provide a scientific basis and robust data for establishing a target system that is compatible with both ecological civilization and an associated reward and punishment mechanism, as well as for designing and implementing effective compensation policies for desert ecosystems. This paper first defines desert ecological assets, and then develops a framework for assessing them based on the evaluation of desert ecological resources and desert ecosystem services. This framework paves the foundation for quantitatively assessing desert ecological assets and preparing balance sheets of desert ecological assets. Finally, this paper analyzes current policies relating to desert ecological compensation, discusses how to design compensation policies based on assessment of desert ecological assets, and puts forward suggestions for improving current policies.
