Biological Models for Protecting Different Land Use in Arid Areas China

There are more than 750 counties in 13 provinces and autonomous regions constituting 30% of China lands which are facing serious problem of desertification. These areas are mainly distributed in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas in the western part of Northeast China, North central china and most of northwest china. Biological methods are the ultimate way for drift sand stabilization and a fundamental approach for the development and proper utilization of desert. There are 12 deserts in two physiographical situations (hilly and low land situations) where some successful biological methods for combating desertification have been documented. These methods were used on the basis of land use and the best plant species which are suitable for these harsh conditions. The land uses that are suffering most from desertification are agricultural areas, highways, railways, roads, cities, industrial places and mining areas. The important plant species used for combating desertification are Hedysarum laeve, H. scoparium, Amorpha fruticosa, Lespedeza bicolor, Caragara microphylla, C. korshinskii, Artemisia halodendron, A. sphaerocephala, Astragalus adsurgens, Ulmus pumila, Hippophae rhamnoides, Haloxylon ammodendron, Calligonum mongolicum. Transplanted seedlings, direct sowing, use of cutting, 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, highways, railways and roads, industrial or mining and reservoir properties. Some successful models which have been employed are shelter forest system in oases, shelter system for sand fixation in agricultural areas, transportation, industrial or mining and reservoir properties.