Integrated Measures and their Effects on Combating Rocky Desertification in China

摘要

In China, limestone (karst) areas cover about 3.44 million km2, of which 1.35%is seriously affected by rocky desertification, and about 2.55%is very likely to become rocky desertification areas soon. Guizhou. Guangxi and Yunnan provinces of the southwestern China are the main areas affected by karst and rocky desertification, where the karst area is about 40.7%of the total land area, of which 40-50% is seriously rock-desertified. Rocky desertification brings about many ecological environmental problems, including regional climatic change, serious vegetation deterioration and ecosystem degradation, biodiversity decrease (even disappearance), soil erosion and frequent drought and flood, all of which have seriously affected the economic and social sustainable development, the livelihood of the public and the eco-safety of the areas concerned. Through a long period of practices, China has developed a series of technical measures for combating rocky desertification, which include ecological measures, biological measures, engineering measures, social- economic measures and measures that integrate biological approaches with engineering means. This paper presents a description of the practical models or measures for combating rocky desertification in China and their effects are also outlined.