1 Concept and Global Status of Desertification
　1.1 Concept and scientifc connotations of desertification
　　1.1.1 Definition of desertification
　　1.1.2 Theoretical background to desertification
　　1.1.3 Scientific basis for combating desertification
　1.2 Current status of global desertifieation
　　1.2.1 Introduction to distribution of global desertification
　　1.2.2 Regional features of desertification-prone lands and strategies to combat desertification
　　1.2.3 Status of desertification and activities to combat desertification in most affected developing countries
　References
2 Natural Background of China's Drylands
　2.1 Deserts, Sandlands and the Gobi
　　2.1.1 Deserts
　　2.1.2 Sandlands
　　2.1.3 Gobi
　2.2 Loess Plateau
　　2.2.1 Geomorphological features of the Loess Plateau
　　2.2.2 Soil
　　2.2.3 Climatic characteristics of the Loess Plateau
　　2.2.4 Vegetation
　2.3 Loess-desert transitional belt
　　2.3.1 Role of deserts in the formation of loess
　　2.3.2 Distribution of the Loess
　　2.3.3 Physical properties of the loess
　　2.3.4 Loess-desert transitional belt
　2.4 Droughts
　　2.4.1 Historical record of climate change and droughts
　　2.4.2 Climatic change and droughts in modern times
　　2.4.3 Possible trends in droughts
　2.5 Sand-dust storms
　　2.5.1 Sand-dust storms and their main sand sources
　　2.5.2 Factors influencing sand-dust storms occurrence in China
　　2.5.3 Relationship between sand-dust storm frequency and desertification
　　2.5.4 Sand-dust storms affecting Beijing
　References
3 Natural Resources and their Utilization in the Drylands of China
　3.1 Climate resources and their potential capability
　　3.1.1 Solar radiation and photosynthetic production potential
　　3.1.2 Temperature and the light-temperature production potential
　　3.1.3 Precipitation and light-temperature-water production potential
　3.2 Land resources and prospects for agricultural development
　　3.2.1 Quality, quantity, and use status of land resources and existing problems
　　3.2.2 Development potential of agriculture and measures to develop the land production potential
　3.3 Water resources and ecological water use
　　3.3.1 Type, quantity and distribution of water resources in drylands
　　3.3.2 Water resources use status and existing problems
　　3.3.3 Strategies for water resources development and managing water utilization
　3.4 Protection and utilization of biological resources
　　3.4.1 Biological resources and their current status of utilization
　　3.4.2 Specific biological resources and their industrial development
　3.5 Mineral resources and their development and utilization prospects
　　3.5.1 Metal mineral resources
　　3.5.2 Non-metal mineral resources
　　3.5.3 Energy resources
　References
4 Sandy Deserts, Gobi, Sandlands and Sandified Land in Dryland
　4.1 General situation of sandy deserts, Gobi, sandlands and sandified land
　　4.1.1 General distribution range of sandy deserts, Gobi, sandlands and sandifled land
　　4.1.2 Distribution of sandy deserts, Gobi, sandlands and sandified land
　　4.1.3 Development trend and current situation of land sandifleation
　4.2 Sandy deserts, Gobi and sandifled land in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
　　4.2.1 Sandy deserts, Gobi and sandified land status and distribution
　　4.2.2 Effects of sandification
　4.3 Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
　　4.3.1 Present situation, type and areas of deserts, Gobi, sandland and sandified land
　　4.3.2 Effects of sandification
　4.4 Tibet Autonomous Region
　　4.4.1 Bioclimatic zones of desertified land on the Tibetan Plateau
　　4.4.2 Types of desertified lands on Tibetan Plateau
　　4.4.3 Driving force of desertification
　　4.4.4 Hazards and pressures of desertification on the environment and development
　4.5 Gansu Province
　　4.5.1 Current situation and distribution of deserts, Gobi and sandified land
　　4.5.2 Effects of sandification
　4.6 Qinghai Province
　　4.6.1 Current situation and distribution of deserts, Gobi and sandified land
　　4.6.2 Effects of sandification
　4.7 Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
　　4.7.1 Current Situation and distribution of deserts, Gobi, sandlands and sandified land
　　4.7.2 Effects of sandification
　4.8 Shaanxi Province
　　4.8.1 Distribution of sandlands and sandified land
　　4.8.2 Effects of sandification
　4.9 Other provinces and cities
　　4.9.1 Beijing
　　4.9.2 Tianjin
　　4.9.3 Hebei Province
　　4.9.4 Shanxi Province
　　4.9.5 Liaoning Province
　　4.9.6 Jilin Province
　　4.9.7 Heilongjiang Province
　References
5 Water Erosion in the Drylands of China
　5.1 Distribution of water erosion and its regional characteristics
　　5.1.1 Distribution scope
　　5.1.2 Regional characteristics (Tang et al., 2004)
　5.2 Damage from soil erosion
　　5.2.1 Impacts of soil erosion on land productivity
　　5.2.2 Water erosion and water quality
　　5.2.3 Water erosion and mud and silt sedimentation
　5.3 Fundamental water erosion control measures
　　5.3.1 Small watershed management
　　5.3.2 Small watershed management on the Loess Plateau
　References
6 Soil Salinization
7 Steppe Degradation and Rehabilitation in Northern China
8 Biological and Technical Approaches to Control Windy Desertification
9 Engineering and Technological Measures for Combating Desertification
10 Optimized Sustainable Eco-production Paradigms in
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