Scientifically improving human-nature relationship in desertification areas

Authors

Bojie FU, State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, ChinaFollow
Yanxu LIU, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Shuai WANG, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Junfeng SONG, Forestry and Grassland Administration of Ordos City, Ordos 017010, China
Zejiang LI, Ordos International Technological Innovation Center for Desertification Control, Ordos 017010, China

Keywords

dryland, combat desertification, nature’s contribution to people, nature-based solutions, regional sustainable development

Document Type

Strategy & Policy Decision Research

Abstract

The expansion trend of desertification in China has been fundamentally restrained. In the new era, scientifically improving the relationship between human and nature in desertification areas to promote regional sustainable development has become an important demand for desertification combat in China. We summarize four key challenges to sustainable development in desertification areas, including increasing human demand on water, increasing land use intensity, increasing climatic risk, and insufficient industrial innovation. Based on the theoretical understanding of the coupling relationship between human and nature, the evolution of human-nature relationship in combating desertification can be divided into four stages, namely, extensive land exploitation, exploiting land while combating desertification, regional joint combating desertification, and exerting the force of nature. Three important scientific research directions are proposed, including conducting comprehensive and systematic scientific research on dryland, advocating nature-based solutions in dryland, and strengthening the global dryland human and nature research cooperation network.

First page

2027

Last Page

2036

Language

Chinese

Publisher

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences

References

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Recommended Citation

FU, Bojie; LIU, Yanxu; WANG, Shuai; SONG, Junfeng; and LI, Zejiang (2024) "Scientifically improving human-nature relationship in desertification areas," Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version): Vol. 39 : Iss. 12 , Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.16418/j.issn.1000-3045.20240714001
Available at: https://bulletinofcas.researchcommons.org/journal/vol39/iss12/3