3 KEY PROJECTS IN NAP

According to the ecological requirements of the sustainable development strategy, China has emphasized her efferts on a significant number of projects to combat desertification. The following principles will be applied to these projects:

---Priority be given to protective measures;

---Techniques adopted be suitable to local conditions;

---Management of key proj ects be rationalized;

---Implementation of projects be divided into phases with an appropriate time frame;

---Supervising and monitoring be strengthened;

---Great attention be paid to cost/benefit;

---Immediate objectives be combined with long-term objectives.

3. 1 Projects to Combat Desertification Caused by Wind Erosion

From 1996 to 2000, some 2.80 million ha of the affected areas will be rehabilitated, in which 0.80 million ha of plantation will be established, from 2001 to 2010, about 6.00 million ha of the affected areas will be rehabilitated, in which l.70 million ha of plantation will be established, from 201 1 to 2050, nearly 30 million ha of the affected areas will be rehabilitated, in which 7.00 million ha of plantation will be established. In addition to the main projects specified in the program, the emphasis will be made on the establishment of ecological and economic forestry on the Loess Plateau, sandy lands, steppe and desert steppe, and revegetation on desert and Gobi areas where natural condition is better.

According to the real situation in the affected areas caused by wind erosion, 18 key projects and 16 pilot experiments will be launched in arid, semi-arid and dry sub- humid areas.

The priority areas of 18 key projects:

1) The reafforestation and rational utilization ofresources in the inner Mongolia Plaieau and the deserts in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region;
2) The overall rehabilitation and development of sandy lands in the north part of the Ulan Buh Sandy Land;
3) The reclamation of desert and development of sandy land along the east part of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and in the southeast part of the Tengger Sand Desert;
4) The desert reclamation and forest plantation along the Hexi Corridor in Gansu Province;
5) The revegetation and development of sand land at the southern part of the Jungar Basin in Xinjiang Uygur Antonomous Region;
6) The protection of the green corridor in the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region;
7) Reclamation and development of sand land at the southem part of the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region;
8) The stablizalion of sand drifts around oil fields in the Central Taklimakan Sand Desert;
9) The overall plamiing and integrated development of sandy lands in the Hulun Bir Sandy Land in the Eastern inner Mongolia Autonomous Region;
10) Sandy land reclamation and protection along the banks of Songhuajiang River and Nenjiang River in the Heilongjiang and Jilin Provinces;
11) The integrated development of waste sand lands along the Xiliao River in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Jilin Province;
12) The integrated development and rational management of sandy lands in the north part of the Horqin Sandy Land in Jilin Province and the inner Mongolia Autonomous Region;
13) The rehabilitation of degraded steppe and rangelands in the Otindag Sandy Land, Imier Mongolia Antonomous Region, 14) The revegetation of sand sheets around the Shengfu-Junggar Coal Mines, Shanxi Province and inner Mongolia Antonomous Region;
15) The rehabilitation of degraded rangelands in the central Mu Us Sandy Land, Inner Mongolia;
16) The control of sand encroachments and dune fixation along the Ancient Great Wall ruins in the southem part of Mu Us Sandy Land, Shanxi;
17) The rehabilitation of desertified land at the north margin of the Daqing Mountains;
18) The integrated utilization and development of waste sand land in the northern Shanxi Province.

The list of 16 national experimental and pilot projects :
l) Pilot experiment on the reclamation of salinized soil and sand stablization in Jinghe County, Xinjiang;
2) Pilot experiment on integrated development and utilization of the affected areas in Wuwei County, Gansu;
3) Pilot experiment on reclamation of sandy land and establishment ofnew oasis in Linze County, Gansu;
4) Pilot experiment on sandy land reclamation in Ulan Buh Sandy Land in Dengkou County, Inner Mongolia;
5) Pilot project on desert vegetation protection of Alxa Desert and rational management of natural resources in EJina Banner, Imier Mongolia;
6) Pilot experiment on sandy land reclamation at high elevation in Xiang Rige, Qaidam Basin, Qinghai Province;
7) Pilot experiment on rehabilitation of degraded rangelands in Horqin Sandy Land in Oniute Banner, Inner Mongolia;
8) Zhanggutai pilot experiment on reafforestation and dune fixation in Horqin Sandy Land, Liaoning Province;
9) Naiman pilot experiment of rehabilitation of desertification affected areas of Horqin Sandy Land, Imier Mongolia;
10) Huanglongchi pilot experiment on the rehabilitation of the affected areas in Piangguan County, Shanxi Province;
11) Yanchi pilot experiment on the rehabilitation of desertification affected areas at the periphery of Mu Us Sandy Land; Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region;
12) Daxin and Fangshan demonstration project on high efficiency utilization and economic development of sand lands at the lower reaches of the Yongding River, Beijing;
13) Pilot experiment on rehabilitation of desertification affected areas of Mu Us Sandy Land in Shenniu County, Shanxi Province;
14) Uxinju pilot experiment on the reclamation of sandy lands of Mu Us Sandy Land in Uxin Banner, lmier Mongolia;
15) Ordos pilot experiment on green engineering of desertification affected areas in Ej enlioro Banner, Inner Mongolia;
16) Plateau pilot experiment on integrated rehabilitation of sandy lands along the banks of rivers in Rikeze, Tibet.

3.2 Projects to Combat Desertification Caused by Water Erosion

3.2.1 Soil and water conservation engineering at the middle reaches ofthe Yellow River, which is aimed at integrated watershed management and divided into 5 parts as following:

1) Soil and water conservation project along the Wuding River Valley,
2) Soil and water conservation project along the Sanchuan Kiver Valley,
3) Soil and water conservation project along the Huangpuchuan River Valley,
4) Soil and water conservation project in Dinxi County, Gansu Province,
5) Soil and water conservation project along the Kuyie River and its Branches, Xinjiang.

UP to 2000, about 1.00 million ha of the areas affected by water erosion will be controlled, from 200 1 to 201 0, around 2.00 million ha will be controlled, and from 201 1 to 2050, some 8.00 million ha will be controlled.

3.2.2 Comprehensive watershed management of the upper reaches of Guanting, Miyun and Panjiakou Water Reservoirs
The purpose of the project is to control the flood hazards and sand encroachment and to provide drinking water supplies to Beijing, Tianjin and Tangshan. It is designed that 0.8 million ha of desertified land will be controlled from 1996 to 2000 and l.60 million ha controlled from 2001 to 2010.

3.2.3 Protective forest system along the middle reaches of the Yellow River
The system is aimed at rehabilitation of the affected areas caused by water erosion by appreciating biological measures.
From 1996 to 2000, about 0.60 million ha of plantation will be set up, from 2001 to 2010, near 1.20 million ha of reafforestation will be established, and from 201 1 to 2050, roughly 0.45 million ha of plantation will be fulfilled.

From 1996 to 2000, the following three key projects are planned:

1) Protection forests along the Yellow River,
2) Soil and water conservation forests along the gorge of the Yellow River in Shanxi and Shaanxi Provinces,
3) Sandbreaks, windbreaks and protective shelterbelts along the Beijing-Baotou- Lanzhou Railway,

3.3 Integrated projects for controlling vegetative degradation and soil salinization

3.3.1 Rehabilitation of degraded rangelands

From 1996 to 2000, l.00 million ha of degraded steppe, desert steppe and rangelands are designed to be rehabilitated, 0.15 million ha of fodder and forage farmlands with high productivity will be created,

From 2001 to 2010, 12 million ha of degraded steppe, desert steppe and rangelands are designed to be rehabilitated, and 2 million ha of fodder and forage farmlands will be established as high yield base,

From 2011 to 2050, 40 million ha of degraded steppe, desert steppe and rangelands will be rehabilitated, and 5 million ha of fodder and forage farmlands will be established as high quality forage sources.

3.3.2 The ecological restoration projects of rangelands at the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River water systems.

From 1996 to 2000, 1 million of natural rangelands will be improved, including additional 0.15 million ha of fodder farm with high quality and productivity;

From 2001 to 2010, about 2.50 million ha of natural and artificial rangelands will be improved, including 1 million ha of forage plantation,

From 2011 to 2050, approximately 12 million ha of existing degraded rangelands will be improved, and 3 million ha of forage farms higher productivity will be set up.

3.3.3 Improvement of salinized lands

The improvement of the salinized lands is focused on the control of soil salinization in arid area. From 1996 to 2000, 2 million ha of salinized lands will be improved for cropping, from 2001 to 2010, 4 million ha of the salinized lands will be transformed into arable lands, from 2011 to 2050, 10 million ha of the salinized lands will be reclaimed as new farmlands.

3.4 Establishment of natural reserves aimed at the protection of biodiversity
3.4.1 Sustainable development and protection of the biodiversity

Up to 2000, 165 natural reserves covering 59.50 million ha in desertification affected areas will be established;

Before the end of 201 0, the total area of the natural reserves in the affected areas will be reached to 68.68 million ha;

By 2050, the total area of the natural reserves in the affected areas will be expanded to 91.35 million ha.

The following projects should be emphasized by the end of 2000:

---Natural reserves of forest ecosystem in desert and Loess Plateau of cold temperate zone,
---Natural reserves of steppe and meadow ecosystem,
---Natural reserves of desert ecosystem,
---Natural reserves of inland wet lands,
---Natural reserves of wildlife in deserts and the affected areas;
---Natural reserves of the endangered and rare plant species in desert areas.

3.5 China National Desertification Monitoring and Early Warning System

Based on China National Desertification Monitoring Centre, three level networks (national, provincial and county) will be established, and remote sensing and GIS will be applied for desertification monitoring and early warming system. National integrated monitoring will be carried out in five years, the contents include distribution, area, type and dynamic of the desertification affected areas. The overall objective of the system is to enhance the desertification monitoring and assessment capacities of country through the establishment of inter- and intra- networks.

To collect and analysis all information covering land desertification and its dynamic changes. The result will be used as background information and guidelines to implement NAP;

To establish desertification prediction and forecasting systems;

To provide central and local governments and other users the information, research results, analyses and assessments with aim to meet the needs from different level decision-makers.

3.6 China National Training System on Combating Desertiflcation

---To create China National Training Centre on Combating Desertification in Beijing and conduct training courses, workshops and study tours for domestic decision-makers at different levels, technicians and administrators, farmers, herds-men and women,
---To conduct international training activities in collaboration with UN organizations, international institutions and donors under the partnership agreement.

3.7 China National Research and Development System on Combating Desertification

---To create China National Research and Development Centre on Combating Desertification in Beijing, the Centre is also opened for Asian region and hoped to be served as a regional centre for bilateral and multilateral cooperation and exchange in the fields to combat desertification.
---To carry out integrated studies and assessment of the status of desertification in China and prepare the proposal on combating desertification strategy to policy- making agencies,
---To launch research projects promoting the implementation of the NAP.