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"Desertification."
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Desertification, Land Degradation and Sustainability
Desertification offers a comprehensive overview of the subject and clearly emphasizes the link between local and global desertification processes and how past and current policy has affected arid environments and their populations.This text adequately applies the research undertaken during the last 15 years on the topic.
eBook
Karst landscapes of China: patterns, ecosystem processes and services
ContextThe karst region of southwestern China, one of the largest continuous karsts in the world, is known for its unique landscapes and rich biodiversity. This region has suffered severe environmental degradation (e.g., vegetation cover loss, soil erosion and biodiversity loss). In recent decades, Chinese governments at different levels have initiated several ecological programs (e.g., Green for Grain, Mountain Closure) to restore the degraded environment and to alleviate poverty.ObjectivesThis study summarizes landscape studies of karst landscapes patterns, their dynamics and interactions among landscape pattern, hydrological processes and ecosystem services (ES).MethodsWe conducted a systematic literature review of science and land use policy to identify knowledge gaps and recommend future research and policy directions.ResultsKarst landscapes have experienced rapid turnover in recent decades due largely to the overlap of intense human activity on the fragile karst ecosystems. Many studies have comprehensively examined hydrology, soil processes and ecosystem services (ES) and their relationships with landscape pattern. Most of these studies have found that karst ecosystems recover with improved ES. However, the importance of epikarst in hydrological and soil processes, intense anthropogenic disturbance and landscape heterogeneity in landscape models remains elusive.ConclusionsFuture research should focus on in-depth examination and modelling of karst specific hydrological and soil processes, investigating relationships between climatic change, landscape change, ecological processes, and region-specific ES assessments. Results from such research should provide the necessary scientific support for a comprehensive, national karst rocky desertification treatment project (Stage II) and poverty alleviation initiatives.
Journal Article
Integrating ecosystem services and rocky desertification into identification of karst ecological security pattern
ContextMost researchers focus on the identification of ecological security pattern. However, there is a lack of research on the ecological security pattern of karst fragile area with significant human-land conflict and important ecological shelter function.ObjectivesThe main objectives of this paper were to add the rocky desertification to the construction of ecological security pattern and provide reference for ecological reconstruction of karst ecological fragile area.MethodsBased on the rocky desertification in karst area, this study added a new index in resistance surface correction, and put rocky desertification in the analysis of ecosystem services and ecological sensitivity. Corridors were identified by the least-cost path and circuit theory. Combined with the expansion probability of construction and cultivated land, this study developed a classification system of ecological source area and corridor.ResultsThe ecological source areas is 24,254 km2 and account for 48.4% of the total area. There are 19 corridors, including 6 least-cost path corridors, 10 optimal current density corridors, and 3 river corridors. A total of 18 ecological barrier points and 8 ecological nodes are distributed on the corridors. The study area consisted of four ecological functional areas: ecological core area, ecological buffer area, ecotone area, and living-productive area, with areas of 32,044 km2, 9542 km2, 6811 km2, and 1398 km2, respectively.ConclusionsThe construction of the ecological security pattern enhances the function of ecological barriers and provides a scientific basis for ecological conservation and restoration in a later stage of the karst area in the Wujiang River basin.
Journal Article
Desert or paradise : restoring endangered landscapes using water management, including lake and pond construction
Outlines the author's ten points of sustainable self-reliance, details pond and lake construction, and discusses biodiversity.
Book
Preservation of rare plants of Boysun-Cholbair mountains
The article aims to study the causes of \"desertification\", which is one of the main issues of today, and its negative consequences. The most current method for studying and assessing desertification is large-scale mapping of ecosystem components using landscape-style aerial imagery. Boysun-Cholbair mountains are located in the southern part of the Republic of Uzbekistan and are considered a physical-geographic region with a unique flora. In the course of the study, the current state of the number and quality indicators of the cadastres of the protected communities, land, forest, and pasture types was evaluated, and the map explanation and explanatory report were given. The bioecological characteristics of some of the rare, unique, declining plants (Zeravschania regeliana Korov- and Ferula giganthea B. Fedtsch, Punica granatum L., Anemonastrum baicalense (Turcz.), Anemone bucharica (Regel) Juz.) that form a community in small areas only on the Boysun-Cholbair mountain slopes were studied, and their protection measures were developed and spread. it is stated that the areas have been determined.
Journal Article
Seedling Survival Strategies of IZanthoxylum planispinum/I ‘Dintanensis’ and IZanthoxylum amatum/I ‘Novemfolius’, Based on Functional Traits in Karst Desertification Control
The exploration of the functional traits of Zanthoxylum planispinum 'dintanensis' and Zanthoxylum amatum 'novemfolius' at the seedling stage may provide a scientific basis for the zoning of germplasm resources and the introduction of plant varieties. The seedlings of the above mentioned two species with an age of about 8 months were selected as the study material, and the structure, nutrients, and physiological traits of leaves and roots were determined, respectively, to reveal their survival strategies. The results demonstrated the following four key elements. (1) The leaf thickness, specific leaf area, and leaf δ[sup.15] N value of Z. planispinum 'dintanensis' were significantly higher than those of Z. amatum 'novemfolius' (p < 0.05). However, the root diameter and Ca content showed the opposite results, and the other traits were not significantly different. (2) Leaf functional traits except Ca, as well as specific root length, and root P, Ca, and physiological traits had strong dominant effects on the functional trait system. (3) Among the main functional traits, leaf K and root P preferred environmental selection, leaf C, N, and P favored stable inheritance, and specific leaf area, leaf δ[sup.15] N, and root Ca were affected by varieties. (4) There were significant synergies (promotion) and trade-offs (inhibition) between the functional traits, and the leaves and the root system were closely correlated. It is speculated that Z. planispinum 'dintanensis' may have a stronger defense system. Its leaves are mainly related to growth and defense functions, and its roots are mainly related to the regulation of functions.
Journal Article