Situating China in the Global Effort to Combat Desertification

Abstract

International efforts to tackle desertification led by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) support participatory approaches. The emphasis has been on dialogue between different perspectives, which are often grounded in individualism rather than prioritizing society as a whole, and as a result progress in implementation has been slow. China has made substantial progress in tackling desertification, but its approaches have been controversial, and the sustainability of its achievements has been questioned. While China has been active in UNCCD processes, its approach to addressing desertification has differed from those of other countries. China can thus offer important insights into the international campaign, while acknowledging that China can also learn from the efforts of others. We compare the UNCCD’s “bottom-up” approach and China’s “top-down” approach to better understand the challenges of tackling desertification. We examine the evolution in how desertification has been addressed and shed light on the context behind the changes, focusing on the role of science, policies, and public participation. We find a convergence between top-down and bottom-up approaches and that similar challenges have been experienced. Constant communications with outsiders have enabled adjustments and changes in both China and the international community, even though their approaches remain distinct. We conclude that both approaches are moving toward solutions that start from proactive investments of governments in financial, legal, institutional, and organizational aspects, draw on scientific insights, and which are grounded in the motivated and voluntary participation of non-state actors. Improved sharing of lessons across these approaches would help to create a better enabling form of environmental governance that contributes to tackling desertification.

Quantitative analysis of desertification driving mechanisms in the Shiyang River Basin: Examining interactive effects of key factors through the Geographic Detector Model

“…China experienced multiple arid phases throughout the Quaternary period and intermittence in desertification degrees in the past five decades [15]. This phenomenon attracted scientists to understand these changes' causes and historical trends due to their potentially colossal significance for the global ecology and food supply [7,[16][17][18][19][20]. However, since the 1950s, desertification has increased in China, peaking between the 1970s and early 1980s, then later started ecosystem rehabilitation projects [15].…”

Mapping land degradation and sand and dust generation hotspots by spatiotemporal data fusion analysis: A case‐study in the southern Gobi (Mongolia)

“…An increased capacity to trace LD and dust emissions and their spatiotemporal dynamics would contribute to enabling the integration of SDS into LDN and support ongoing mitigation actions. Considerable efforts have been conducted on dust source areas over Northeast Asia in the frame of national and international policies (Dorj et al, 2013; Filei et al, 2018; Heshmati & Squires, 2013; Kong et al, 2021; Wu et al, 2013). For instance, the Greenbelt Plantation project, a multinational collaboration project that aims to establish a vegetation canopy wall across major dust source areas, has been underway in the Gobi Desert for more than ten years.…”

Study of the Physiological Characteristics of <i>Didymodon vinealis</i> with the Aid of Attapulgite-Based Nanocomposite

“…It makes regional ecological security threaten, economic development and social stability restrict at the national level [1]. In China, desertification is one of a serious environmental problem, which has the development of local economy restrict increasingly [2], the economic losses caused by desertification are estimated to be US $6.8 billion per year [3]. In order to control desertification, the Chinese government has implemented a series of large-scale disaster mitigation programs, such as the Three North Shelter Forest Program and the Combating of Desertification Program [4].…”