Combating Aeolian Desertification in Northeast Asia

1. Auflage 2022
ISBN: 978-981-16-9027-3
Verlag: Springer

Buch, Englisch, 317 Seiten, Format (B × H): 160 mm x 241 mm, Gewicht: 725 g

Reihe: Ecological Research Monographs

This book presents the definition of aeolian desertification and uncovers its processes, driving factors, and consequences, and focuses on measures to effectively combat aeolian desertification in Northeast Asia.

Aeolian desertification in Northeast Asia is of great concern for its destructive influences on the environment and society not only in the local but also in faraway areas. The topics of this book are addressed by compiling theoretical review, remote sensing monitoring, synoptic analysis, and laboratory and field studies in China, Japan, and Mongolia.

This is the first comprehensive book to address the aeolian desertification in Northeast Asia. Readers can learn the basic theory of aeolian desertification and the primary causes of this environmental problem. More critical is the successful practical countermeasures to combat desertification which can be referred to by various stakeholders who concern the aeolian desertification in Northeast Asia.

To meet the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations adopted in 2015, especially its Goal 15.3 to achieve a land degradation-neutral world by 2030, desertification combating actions should be taken cross country borders. This book is not only intended for environmental professionals but also for people who are affected and concerned about desertification and land degradation. The concept and processes in this book will serve as a ready reference to understand the aeolian desertification with countermeasures and successful preventing stories that can be referred to.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Wang, Tao

Tsunekawa, Atsushi

Xue, Xian

Kurosaki, Yasunori

Fachgebiete

• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften Ökologie
• Geowissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften Umweltmanagement, Umweltökonomie
• Geowissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften
• Geowissenschaften Geologie Geologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface

Part One.  Overview of Aeolian Desertification

Chapter 1. Definition of Aeolian desertification and its connotation (Leading author: WT)

1.1 Concept of Aeolian desertification and its development
1.2 Scope of research on Aeolian desertification
1.3 Index system of Aeolian desertification research

 This chapter will clarify the Aeolian desertification and its distinction with desertification and land degradation, define the scope of Aeolian desertification.

 Chapter 2. The environmental and ecological setting in Northeast Asia (Leading author: Wang
Tao; Co-author: Mandakh Nyamtseren)

2.1 The paleo-environment in northern China

 2.2 The paleo-environment in southern Mongolia                          2.3 The climatic systems and climate change in northern China and Southern Mongolia
2.4 The land cover and land use in northern China
 2.5 The land cover and land use in southern Mongolia
Northeast Asia, especially the northern China and southern Mongolia, is experiencing severe Aeolian desertification in the past several decades and is considered as a major source region of Asian dust storms. The abundant sand, strong wind, and low plant coverage are the three aspects that render an area to be prone to Aeolian desertification and dust storm. This chapter will describe where and how the abundant sand comes, the climatic systems and climate change, and land coverage and land use change due to climate and human activities in northern China and southern Mongolia based on previous studies, climatic data, and remote sensing.

 Chapter 3. Spatial distribution and temporal dynamics of Aeolian desertification (Leading author: Wang Tao; Co-author: Khaulenbek Akhmadi)

3.1 Aeolian desertification in northern China in the past five decades
       3.2 Aeolian desertification in southern Mongolia in the past three decades

This chapter will show the spatial distribution of Aeolian desertification and its temporal change in northern China and Southern Mongolia using the remote sensing images and the desertification index.

 Chapter 4. Driving factors of Aeolian desertification (Leading author: Wang Tao; Co-author: Xue Xian)

4.1 Natural mechanism of Aeolian desertification
4.1.1 Global climate change anomaly
4.1.2 Adverse regional natural factors

4.2 Anthropogenic mechanism of Aeolian desertification
4.2.1 Imbalance between population pressure and environmental capacity
4.2.2 Direct influence of human activities on Aeolian desertification
4.2.3 Indirect influence of human activities on Aeolian desertification

This chapter will review the driving factors of Aeolia desertification, which includes environmental background that makes the northeast Asia prone to Aeolian desertification, impacts of climate variation and climate change on Aeolian desertification, and the direct effect of human activities like the grazing and over-exploitation and indirect effect like the economic development on the Aeolian desertification in this area.

Chapter 5. Aeolian desertification processes (Leading author:Wang Tao; Co-author: Zhao Halin)

5.1 Physical processes of aeolian desertification
5.1.1 The formation of Aeolian landforms
5.1.2 Wind erosion and Aeolian desertification

5.2 Biological processes of Aeolian desertification
5.2.1 Change in biodiversity
5.2.2 Change in plant habitat
5.2.3 Changes in plant physiology and ecology

 5.3 Human activities on the development and reversal of Aeolian desertification

This chapter will summarize the physical and biological change in ecosystems alongside the Aeolian desertification. How the human disturbance accelerates the Aeolian desertification and intervention reverses the Aeolian desertification will also be discussed.

Chapter 6. Impacts of Aeolian desertification and dust storm on the ecosystem, economic development, and human health (Leading author: Atsushi Tsunekawa)

6.1 Impacts of Aeolian desertification on the local ecosystem

6.2 Impacts of Aeolian desertification on agriculture, industry, and transportation
    6.3 Impacts of Aeolian desertification on human health in local and downwind regions
In this chapter, the impact of Aeolian desertification on ecosystem services will mainly comply from previous studies of the Chinese and Japanese team. The impact of the Aeolian desertification on agriculture, industry, and transportation will be introduced based on the data from statistical yearbook or published papers. The effects of Aeolian desertification on human health will be evaluated based on the data when the dust storm occurs. 

Part Two. Measures to Combat Aeolian Desertification

Chapter 7. Baseline or guideline to combat Aeolian desertification (Leading author: Xue Xian; Co-author: Zhang Kecun)

7.1 The relationship between Aeolian desertification control and sustainable livelihood

7.2 Aims for Aeolian desertification control7.3 Principles for Aeolian desertification controlSo far, many efforts have been made to combat Aeolian desertification across the world to achieve zero net land degradation goals. However, many of the measures do not meet the natural laws, and sustainable development requirements, resulting in many actions have failed. Based on these experiences and lessons, this chapter mainly describes the principles to be followed in the prevention and control of Aeolian desertification to guideline the future battle against the Aeolian desertification. Chapter 8. Engineering measures to combat Aeolian desertification (Leading author: Xue Xian)
8.1 Environment for implementing engineering measures
8.2 Materials of engineering measures
8.3 Several engineering measures and their effects
8.4 Chemical measures to combat Aeolian desertification

In the arid and extremely arid regions with less rainfall, it is impossible to carry out desertification control through biological measures like planting trees or grass. At this situation, engineering measures that do not rely on plants often play a significant role. This chapter mainly introduces some common engineering measures, as well as their technical parameters and sand controlling effect.

Chapter 9. Biological measure to combat Aeolian desertification (Leading author: Zhao Halin; Co-author: Sun Liangying)

9.1 Protection of natural desert forest
9.2 Construction of oasis shelter forest belt
9.3 Sandy area enclosure for afforestation and vegetative sand-fixation

This chapter will focus on the biological measures like the plantation of trees and shrubs, construction of cropland protection system around oasis and afforestation and enclosure to combat Aeolian desertification.

Chapter 10. Comprehensively systematic measures to combat Aeolian desertification (Leading author: Wang Tao; Co-author: Xue Xian)

10.1 Combination of Aeolian desertification controlling measures in the protection system

10.1.1 Protective system dominated by "fixation" and combined with "block" and "transport" and "diversion"

10.1.2 Protective system dominated by "block" and "transport"10.1.3 Other integrated measures 10.2 Regional comprehensive management of desertification areas

   10.2.1 Combating Aeolian desertification in farmland
10.2.2 Combating Aeolian desertification in grassland

    10.2.3 Comprehensive control of Aeolian desertification in the watershed
                   10.2.4 Comprehensive control of Aeolian desertification in other typical regions

 In this chapter, the baseline, and principles, the differential combating measures according to which drives dominate the Aeolian desertification will be introduced.

Chapter 11. Land management policies for dust storm and Aeolian desertification in the source region countries (Leading author: Zhou Lihua)

11.1 Policies to reduce land use pressure
             11.2 Policies for regulating human activities
             11.3 Financial support and science-technology guidance
             11.4 Perfect management and monitoring system

 This chapter will mainly focus on the policy like the privatization on the development of Aeolian desertification and policy like the “grain for green” and “balancing between livestock and grassland” on the restoration of desertified land will be discussed.

Chapter 12. Countermeasures to mitigate the Aeolian desertification and dust storm in downwind countries (Leading author: Kurosaki)

12.1 Research to understand the origin and transportation of dust storm

12.2 Involvement in the environmental protection projects in China, Mongolia
12.3 Development of the early warning systemThis chapter will deal with the research activities and Aeolian desertification combating actions in downwind countries like Japan, and development of early warning system to minimize the adverse effect of the dust storm.
Part Three. Successful Stories for Combating Aeolian Desertification from Countries in Northeast Asia

 Chapter 13. Successful implementation of Aeolian desertification combating measures in China (Leading author: Wang Tao)

13.1 Successful sand prevention system for major projects
    13.2 Successful sand control and ecological construction projects

13.3 Successful patterns of Aeolian desertification control and sand industry in typical regions

 This chapter will exemplify several successful Aeolian desertification projects in China in the past five decades.

 Chapter 14. Successful implementation of Aeolian desertification combating measure in Mongolia (Leading author: Wang Tao; Co-author: Khaulenbek Akhmadi)

14.1 International projects to combat Aeolian desertification in Mongolia
     14.2 National projects to combat Aeolian desertification in Mongolia

This chapter will introduce the international and national Aeolian desertification combating projects in MongoliaChapter 15. Sustainable land management to combat Aeolian desertification (Leading author: Atsushi Tsunekawa)

    15.1 International framework to combat desertification
15.2 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and land degradation neutrality
15.3 Sustainable land management and challenges for future development

 In this chapter, international to combat desertification such as UNCCD (UN Convention to Combat Desertification) and current global goal to achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030 included in SDGs will be explained. Then a framework for sustainable land management to prevent the occurrence of Aeolian desertification, and to restored the desertified land as well as to improve the livelihood of local people will be proposed.

Über Autor(innen)

Dr. Tao WANG is a professor at Northwest Institute of Eco-environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CSA). He obtained his doctoral degree from Lanzhou Institute of Desert Research, CAS. He has been at the forefront of aeolian desertification and disaster research and control since 1983, and obtained encouraging results on the status, causes, blown sand physics and biology process, development, and reversal trend of aeolian desertification in Northern China. His work has helped the national policy maker and organ of authority to take notice of aeolian desertification and provided theoretical foundation and technique system for implementation of national layout and projects to combat aeolian desertification and disaster. He served the UNCCD for years as member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of Third Scientific Conference (SAC, UNCCD) and as member of Science-Policy-Interface (SPI) of the UNCCD.

Atsushi Tsunekawa is a professor at Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University (Japan). He graduated from the Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Tokyo, after which he joined the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan. Currently, he serves as a professor at the Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, and also serves as a head of Strategic Management Office of International Platform for Dryland Research and Education, Tottori University. His primary scholarly interests are developing sustainable land management (SLM) technologies and approaches to restore degraded land and improve farmers’ livelihood, and monitoring and modelling of terrestrial ecosystems under climate change using remote sensing and GIS. He has been selected as a Science and Technology Correspondent from Japan to the Committee on Science and Technology of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

Xian Xue is a professor at Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences. She obtained her PhD in physical geography from the Graduate School at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2002. As the head, she currently leads the Department of Desert and Desertification in the NIEER, the Dryland Salinization Station of NIEER, and the Salinization Research Station of Gansu Province. Prof. Xue’s main research fields are desertification and restoration, and climate and environmental change in arid and cold regions. Her interest focuses on the dynamic process and mechanism of desertification and its rehabilitation. One of her current research is exploring the impact of global warming and human activity on land degradation in the arid and alpine ecosystems. Her other work is to explore restoration possibilities of degraded land in the drylands by integrating water management, sustainable agriculture, and biological techniques with her team.

Yasunori Kurosaki is a professor at Arid Land Research Center (ALRC), Tottori University, Japan. He obtained his PhD from Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba. His main research theme is elucidation of the aeolian dust emission mechanisms. Prof. Kurosaki began his research at the Meteorological Research Institute, Japan Meteorological Agency, in 2001, and he has continued it at Chiba University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Tottori University. He has elucidated the causes of aeolian dust emission that change with time and place in drylands of Northeastern Asia mainly by analyzing meteorological observatory data and GIS data such as satellite data. He has also studied it by field surveys in the Gobi Desert. His interest and the purpose of his research are to apply his elucidated mechanisms to improve numerical aeolian dust models and to prevent wind erosion and aeolian dust damage.