Ecological Restoration in West China: Problems and Proposals

• Published in: Ambio Vol. 38; no. 3; pp. 177 - 179
• Main Authors: Wang, Xiuhong, Shen, Yuancun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sweden The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences 01.05.2009; Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural land; China; Desertification; Ecological sustainability; Ecology; Economic development; Environmental economics; Environmental impact; Environmental restoration; Environmental Restoration and Remediation - methods; Farmlands; Floods; Forests; Grasses; Karst; Land area; Land degradation; Law enforcement; Limestone; Mountain regions; Mountains; Mudflows; Plateaus; Precipitation; Restoration ecology; Shrubs; Soil erosion; Soil formation; Sustainable agriculture; Sustainable development; Synopses; Synopsis; Topography; Water erosion; Water resources; Wind; China; China, People's Rep
• ISSN: 0044-7447; 1654-7209
• DOI: 10.1579/0044-7447-38.3.177

Upper Paleozonic thick-bedded limestone strata are widely distributed and karst topography is well developed, which results in the region being prone to strong stony desertification. Because of unstable soil-forming conditions, other mountainous regions without limestone strata are also subject to serious water erosion, mud flow, and hill creep. According to statistical report, West China had a salinized cropland area of 20 754 kmsup 2, which occupied 6.5% of its total cropland area, and amounted to 27.2% of the nation's salinized cropland area (7).\n Thus, it is imperative to establish an integrated management system for ecological restoration entirely controlled by the central government.