Ecological Restoration and Recovery in Arid Desert Regions of China: A review for 60-year research progresses of Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station,Chinese Academy of Sciences
During 60 years since Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station was founded,the major task of the station was focused on national demand and tailed to thedevelopmentoffrontierdisciplines in arid desert regions,a numerous of significant research progresses on the sand hazard control,restoration and recovery of desert ecosystems,long-term ecological research of desert,eco-hydrology of revegetated sand dunes and stability of artificial vegetation have been achieved,which created a harmonious sustainable development model between human and desert.The main achievements such as the key technology of revegetation in arid desert areas where precipitation is less than200 mm have been solved,we also confirmed ecological restoration is feasible by artificially boost,and explored the mechanism of soil water cycling mediated by vegetation,further put forward the key technology and application of ecological recovery models;Theoretical model has been proposed through understanding ecological mechanism of maintaining stability of artificial vegetation.In addition,we revealed the regime of carbon and nitrogen cycles and their responds to the environmental variation under future global changes,as well as took the lead in studying on eco-hydrology of biological soil crusts and stress physiological ecology of desert plants in China.All these enhanced the formation of an international academic exchange and research platform for desert research and long-term ecological research.