侯仁之先生与沙漠历史地理研究

Hou Renzhi and the research of desert historical geography

侯仁之先生为沙漠历史地理研究这一全新科学领域的开拓者,他多次深入沙漠地区进行历史地理考察,对沙区地理环境的历史变迁及其演变规律进行了系统探讨,在学科理论建树和实践探索上取得丰硕成果。他的研究不仅揭示了历史时期人类活动对沙漠地区自然环境的影响过程及其演变规律,而且也为今天西北地区防沙治沙以及生产发展和经济建设提供了重要的科学依据和历史借鉴。他的学术思想及业绩,值得我们继承和发扬。

As the pioneer of the whole new science field research on desert historical geography, Professor Hou Renzhi conducted many surveys into desert areas. Based on the investigations, he made systematic research on the historical changes of the geographical environment and its evolution laws, and has achieved remarkable academic achievements on the theoretical accomplishment and practical exploration. His works not only reveal the influences of human activities on the geographical environment and its evolution law in desert areas, but also provide an important scientific basis and historical reference for the national sand-control, the production development and the economic construction in desert areas of northwest China. His academic thoughts and significant achievements deserve our reverence, inheritance and emulation. The first part of the paper mainly elucidates the process of desert investigation. Part 2 elaborates his theoretical achievements on historical geography of desert. Part 3 is a specific introduction to his practical results. The conclusion of Hou＇s research in this field is drawn in the last part.