沙漠化灾害现状与损失评估

沙漠化是重大的全球性灾害之一。本文利用最新数据分析了全球与我国沙漠化灾害的面积、程度及其分布,并对其每年造成的经济损失进行了估算,对全球及我国的沙漠化灾害进行了定量概括。     

毁林与汉代居延垦区的衰落

本文根据历史史料，阐明了汉代居延垦区由兴旺发达到衰落的历史原因。进一步说明了乱破滥伐森林带来的恶果。开发大自然必须遵循自然规律，切不可盲目蛮干，毫无克制。     

我国沙漠化灾害的发展及其危害

沙漠化灾害是在特定自然环境背景下产生的,严重危及人类生产和生存。文章着重阐述沙漠化发展对农、牧业、工矿交通及环境等方面造成的经济损失。据初步统计,全国每年因沙漠化遭受的直接经济损失达36～45亿元,间接经济损失高达292亿元以上。同时,指出沙漠化的实质是从根本上毁损土壤肥力,丧失人类赖以生存的土地。因此,从沙漠化发生时间的频繁性、经常性,空间分布的广泛性,致害的多样性及造成的经济损失严重性看,沙漠化灾害是我国严重自然灾害之一。     

Assessing desertification risk using system stability condition analysis

This paper describes a procedure for evaluating the desertification risk in threatened areas. The procedure is based on an eight-equation dynamic model of a generic human–resource system that can be applied to different desertification syndromes. For each application, interest focuses on finding all the possible long-term final states of the system and on defining the conditions that mark out sustainability and long-term desertification by means of unambiguous specific parameter relations. The procedure is applied to three typified cases in Spain: (A) rainfed crops in areas with high soil erosion risk; (B) irrigated intensive agricultural systems; and (C) commercial rangelands. Results show that, in case A, high profit scenarios are responsible for the final extension of desertification but do not determine the specific threshold between sustainability and desertification. They do, however, in cases B and C.     

Agricultural causes of desertification risk in Minqin, China

This study uses statistical modeling techniques to develop a desertification risk index (RI) for Minqin County, Gansu Province, China. Twenty socio-economic factors were selected and compared with the RI results to explore the spatial and temporal variability of desertification risk in the study area and to identify possible local driving forces behind desertification risk. The explanatory factors were different in 1988, 1992 and 1997, possibly reflecting the role of temporal variation as a contributor to desertification. The average number of sheep per-household was found to be an important indicator of change in desertification risk, while changes in ridge crop planting area explained the distribution of the rate of change in desertification risk in 1988-1992. The results suggests that the RI was useful in expanding the understanding of spatial temporal desertification issues in Minqin County, as well as identifying a current set of agricultural activities related to desertification risk. Further, given the limited nature of consistent data and observations for the area, development of the RI also served to establish a baseline for future investigations into desertification change and the risks such change might pose for the region.     

Achieving sustainability by introducing alternative livelihoods

The millennium ecosystem assessment report on global assessment of desertification has highlighted its worldwide impacts on the environment—increasing dust storms, floods and global warming—as well as on societies and economies. It links sustainable management of resources, and inter alia well-being of dryland populations, to reducing societal pressures on dryland ecosystems through adoption of alternative livelihoods. This paper, in combination with a companion paper by Safriel and Adeel, presents the conceptual underpinnings of this approach as well as examples of how innovative approaches for creating livelihoods can help reduce the pressure on marginal drylands. Three case studies presented are based on activities undertaken within a joint international project called sustainable management of marginal drylands. First, introduction of chicken farming to farmers in Hunshundake Sandland in northern China has reduced the pressure on grasslands and led to a major recovery of these ecosystems. Second, development of desert-based aquaculture, with accompanied longer-term storage of water, on the margins of the Cholistan desert in Pakistan has provided a new source of income for the villagers. Third, development of a new income-generating activity based on soap production from olive oil in Dana Biosphere Reserve in Jordan has demonstrated that traditional olive farming can be linked to community-based innovation to create a new, high-demand market for goods. Working with communities to develop new, sustainable livelihoods that reduce pressure on marginal drylands can thus be used as powerful tool for overcoming and reversing desertification.     

Rapid vegetation regeneration in a seriously degraded Rhanterium epapposum community in northern Kuwait after 4 years of protection

A study was carried out in northern Kuwait to investigate vegetation recovery in sandy depressions in the Sabriya oilfield ('Sabriya-IN'), 4 years after it was completely protected from livestock grazing and other anthropogenic activities which have largely depleted the dwarf shrub vegetation. This vegetation was compared with that in seriously overgrazed depressions outside the oilfield ('Sabriya-OUT'), where negative influences persist, and with a sandy site in central Kuwait which has been protected for over 20 years ('Sulaibiya'). There has been a striking recovery of the dwarf shrub vegetation in Sabriya-IN during the 4 years, with cover values of shrubs as high as at Sulaibiya. Rhanterium epapposum has been the main species to benefit from protection. However, the shrubs have not regenerated from seed, but rather from underground stumps that have probably remained in the soil for decades. Cover values of the annual flora at Sabriya-IN were very similar to those at Sulaibiya, and they were significantly higher than at Sabriya-OUT. However, it appears that some species may have disappeared or become extremely rare at Sabriya-IN when compared with Sulaibiya, as Sabriya-IN and Sabriya-OUT are remarkably similar floristically. Despite the impressive regeneration of the dwarf shrub vegetation at Sabriya-IN, which contradicts the view that vegetation recovery is a slow process in desert ecosystems, it is important to consider what the natural vegetation was in this part of the world. It is suggested that the region was once dominated by an open Acacia woodland, in which perennial grasses comprised most of the ground layer, and that the current dwarf shrub vegetation is a response to decades, if not centuries, of moderate to heavy grazing.     

近40年新疆沙漠化与人类活动

据对新疆近代沙漠化的调查,及对近40年新疆的气温、降水、地表径流与新疆垦荒、河流湖泊变化、植被减少等分析对比得出,新疆近代沙漠化的速度是惊人的,但其气候没有显著变旱,而人类活动对新疆沙化作用已明显地超越了自然干旱作用。     

Desertification and Sustainable Development of the Heihe River Basin in Arid Northwestern China

Abstract

The Heihe River Basin of northwestern China is one of several areas severely affected by desertification. This article outlines the status of desertification in this basin. There are mainly 5 types of desertification in the Heihe River Basin, namely soil and water erosion, sandy desertification, soil aridization, soil salinization and vegetation degradation. Among the 5 types of desertification, the main desertification type is sandy desertification with an area of 10 771.97 km²; Second type is soil salinization with an area of 10 591.82 km²; Next to the soil salinization is the type of soil and water erosion with an area of 5 747.68 km² and the other types of desertification in the Heihe River Basin are soil aridization with just area of 1 369.96 km² and vegetation degradation type with an area of 1 490.48 km² respectively. Both natural and man-made factors are responsible for the causes of desertification development, among which the latter is the main driving force for desertification in the basin.     

川西北高寒草地沙化土壤特征及治理模式探讨——以阿坝州红原县为例

通过对川西北高寒草地不同类型的沙化样地0—10cm,10～20cm和20～30cm土壤有机质、pH和含水量进行分析。结果表明：（1）随着沙化程度加重,土壤有机质含量和土壤含水量明显降低;（2）随着土层深度增加,土壤有机质含量降低;未沙化、轻度沙化样地的土壤含水量随土层深度增加而降低,重度沙化样地则相反;（3）中度和重度沙化样地土壤pH约7．0,未沙化和轻度沙化pH值在6．5左右;沙地土壤有机质与pH值呈显著负相关关系,沙化土壤有机碳与水分损失是一个正反馈。鉴于川西高寒草地特殊环境,探讨了选用适宜的多年生高原药用植物或者其他高价值资源植物作为固沙材料,将治沙与经济发展相结合,建立高寒沙化草地治理模式。