History and Present Status of Desertification in Horqin Sandy Land Region

Abstract

The Horqin Sandy Land has comparatively nice natural environment in sandy lands of China, this sandy land is hopeful for controlling desertification. Through retrospecting to the historical processes of desertification and some anthropological events in the study region, it is concluded that the Horqin Sandy Land was a desertified region resulted from irrational and overmuch human activities in the background of global climate change. This region ever experienced obvious reverse progress during Jin Dynasty to Qing Dynasty due to diminution of human activity. According to national desertification survey data, we have analyzed the present status of Horqin Sandy Land and its characteristics, and have discussed the strategies of controlling desertification in this region through combining with its historical desertification processes.