Analysis of desertification and wood land distribution: A case study on the Balinyou Banner of Inner Mongolia, China

Desertification is a serious threat to the sustainability of the environment and to human habitation. Kerqin sandy land is the largest sandy land in China, and is one of the most important origins of sandstorms in Northern China. Land desertification and frequent sandstorms in the spring strongly affect the growth of grassland vegetation and crops, and the effective of eco-environment in this region. Scholars have proposed different measures to control desertification for different regions and to reduce its influence. Planting shelterbelt is one of the most common measures to prevent desertification in Kerqin sandy land. In this study Remote Sensing data were used to monitor sandy land and forest areas from 1977 to 2009. The effectiveness of shelterbelt as a defence against desertification was also