Biological Models for Protecting Different Land Use in Arid Areas China

There are more than 750 counties in 13 provinces and autonomous regionsconstituting 30% of China lands which are facing serious problem of desertification. Theseareas are mainly distributed in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas in the western part ofNortheast China, North central china and most of northwest china. Biological methods are theultimate way for drift sand stabilization and a fundamental approach for the development andproper utilization of desert. There are 12 deserts in two physiographical situations (hilly andlow land situations) where some successful biological methods for combating desertificationhave been documented. These methods were used on the basis of land use and the best plantspecies which are suitable for these harsh conditions. The land uses that are suffering mostfrom desertification are agricultural areas, highways, railways, roads, cities, industrial placesand mining areas. The important plant species used for combating desertification areHedysarum laeve, H. scoparium, Amorpha fruticosa, Lespedeza bicolor, Caragaramicrophylla, C. korshinskii, Artemisia halodendron, A. sphaerocephala, Astragalusadsurgens, Ulmus pumila, Hippophae rhamnoides, Haloxylon ammodendron, Calligonummongolicum. Transplanted seedlings, direct sowing, use of cutting, and air seeding techniqueswere used for greening areas degraded by wind and water erosion. Different models havebeen applied for protecting agricultural areas, cities, highways, railways and roads, industrialor mining and reservoir properties. Some successful models which have been employed areshelter forest system in oases, shelter system for sand fixation in agricultural areas,transportation, industrial or mining and reservoir properties.