16-day Expedition on Taklimakan Desert Edge-locking Project Ends
2025-03-24
A 16-day scientific expedition focused on the edge-locking project surrounding the Taklimakan Desert has recently concluded with notable success. The mission covered an impressive distance of 3,046 kilometers, aiming to evaluate the effectiveness of the project and identify any potential issues. The research team conducted thorough on-site inspections along the desert’s perimeter, collecting crucial data to support the development of essential technical systems for establishing efficient forest and grass belts, which are vital for improving desertification control efforts.
The expedition brought together a team of researchers from prominent institutions, including the Xinjiang Academy of Forestry (XAF), and the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The primary focus of the investigation was the edge-locking project in Ruoqiang County, where the team documented and analyzed various techniques used for sand control, including engineering-based solutions and photovoltaic approaches. The first-hand data collected will be instrumental in developing a more comprehensive and effective technical system for combating desertification.
"We conducted an exhaustive investigation into the techniques employed in the edge-locking project, encompassing engineering, biological, and photovoltaic sand control methods, as well as an assessment of the surrounding natural and social conditions. The data collected will be invaluable for evaluating the effectiveness of these edge-locking measures and will provide a solid foundation for the project's continued successful progress." said ZHANG Huifang, a researcher at the Institute of Resources and Information under XAF.
The team also assessed the implementation of the flood diversion and irrigation project on-site. In addition, they underscored the need for further research into the optimal layout of straw checkerboard sand barriers to determine the most effective spacing patterns.
“Straw checkerboard sand barriers are not positioned cross an entire dune but are instead placed at specific intervals,” said Prof. GAO Xin from XIEG, “Planning these intervals demands scientific guidance, and it is essential to establish the optimal spacing to effectively stabilize the sand while maximizing benefits and minimizing costs.”
The Taklimakan Desert is the largest drifting desert in China and the second largest in the world. Its shifting sands frequently lead to sandstorms, which pose significant threats to the surrounding ecosystem. On November 28, 2024, the planting of rose seedlings in the last section of the desert edge-locking project in Yutian County marked the completion of a 3,046-kilometer green sand-blocking belt encircling the Taklimakan. However, the creation of this green belt is just the beginning. Continued efforts in desertification control will follow, guided by scientifically rigorous planning and methodologies.
Contact
LONG Huaping
Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography
E-mail: longhp@ms.xjb.ac.cn
Web: http://english.egi.cas.cn