Causal effects of shelter forests and water factors on desertification control during 2000–2010 at the Horqin Sandy Land region, China

The Horqin Sandy Land（HSL）, the largest sandy land in the semi-arid agro-pastoral ecotone of Northeast China, has been subject to desertification during the past century. In response, and to control the desertification,government implemented the Three-North Shelter/Protective Forest Program, world＇s largest ecological reforestation/afforestation restoration program. The program began in1978 and will continue for 75 years until 2050. Understanding the dynamics of desertification and its driving forces is a precondition for controlling desertification.However, there is little evidence to directly link causal effects with desertification process（i.e., on the changing area of sandy land） because desertification is a complex process,that can be affected by vegetation（including vegetation cover and extent of shelter forests） and water factors such as precipitation, surface soil moisture, and evapotranspiration.The objectives of this study were to identify how influencing factors, especially shelter forests, affected desertification in HSL over a recent decade. We used Landsat TM imagery analysis and path analysis to identify the effects of spatiotemporal changes in water and vegetation parameters during2000–2010. Desertification was controlled during the study period, as indicated by a decrease in desert area at a rate of163.3 km2year-1and an increase in the area with reduced intensity or extent of desertification. Total vegetation cover in HSL increased by 10.6 % during the study period and this factor exerted the greatest direct and indirect effects on slowing desertification. The contribution of total vegetation cover to controlling desertification increased with the intensity of desertification. On slightly and extremely severe desertified areas, vegetation cover contributed 5 and 42 % of the desertification reduction, respectively. There were significant correlations between total vegetation cover and water conditions（i.e., evapotranspiration and precipitation）and the area of shelter forests（P ／ 0.0001）, in which water conditions and the existence of shelter forests contributed49.7 and 12.8 % to total vegetation cover, respectively. The area of shelter forests increased sharply due to program efforts, but only shrub forests had significant direct effects on reducing the area of desertification categorized as slightly desertified. The reason for the lack of direct effect of increased arbor forests（accounting for 95.3 % of the total increase in shelter forests） on reducing desertification might be that the selected arbor species were not suited to water conditions（low precipitation, high evapotranspiration） prevailing at HSL. The establishment of shelter forests aided control of desertification in the HSL region, but the effect was less than expected. Effective control of desertification in the HSL region or other similar sandy areas will require greater improvements in vegetation cover. In particular,shrub species should be selected for plantation with reference to their potential to survive and reproduce in the harsh climatic and weather conditions typical of desertified areas.

Formation mechanisms and remediation techniques for low-efficiency artificial shelter forests on the Chinese Loess Plateau

The construction of artificial shelter forests(ASFs)has resulted in substantial ecological,economic,and societal benefits to the Chinese Loess Plateau(CLP).However,the health and benefits of ASFs are being increasingly threatened by the formation of low-efficiency artificial shelter forests(LEASFs).In this study,LEASFs are systematically analyzed in terms of their status,formation mechanisms,and developmental obstacles.The key restoration techniques and schemes were summarized to improve the quality and efficiency of LEASFs.LEASFs are formed by relatively complex mechanisms,but they arise mainly due to poor habitat conditions,improper tree species selections,mismatch between stands and habitat,extensive forest management measures,and human interferences.The restoration and improvement of LEASFs are hindered by water deficits,mismatch between stands and habitat,single management purpose,and low efficiency.LEASFs are becoming more complex due to their wide range,the challenges associated with their restoration,and insufficient technological measures for their restoration.The key techniques of the quality and efficiency improvement of LEASFs include basic forest tending methods,near-natural restoration,multifunction-oriented improvement,and systematic restoration.An understanding on the formation mechanisms of LEASFs and a scientific approach toward their restoration are urgently needed and critical for the ecological protection and high-quality development of LEASFs on the CLP.Based on these analyses,we recommend strengthening the monitoring and supervision of LEASFs,considering the bearing capacity of regional water resources,implementing multiple restoration techniques,promoting multifunction-oriented ecological development,and exploring new management concepts to achieve the sustainable development of ASFs on the CLP.

三北工程区生态系统土壤保持能力评估数据集(2000-2020年)

土壤保持能力是评价生态系统服务功能的重要指标之一,在维护区域生态安全中具有重要作用。本数据集包含了三北工程区2000–2020年生态系统土壤水蚀模数和土壤保持量的空间分布数据。这些数据是以三北工程区的遥感、气象、地理和土壤等多源数据为基础,结合GIS技术,利用RUSLE模型进行的估算,直观地评价了三北工程区2000–2020年生态系统土壤保持能力。本数据集从数据来源和模型计算等两个方面进行了数据质量控制,以保证数据的客观准确性,可为三北工程区生态系统土壤保持服务变化评价及生态系统服务变化评价提供必要的科学依据。