The challenge of soil loss control and vegetation restoration in the karst area of southwestern China

Soil loss, both from surface soil loss and subsurface soil leakage, in the karst regions of southwestern China is a serious environmental problem that threatens sustainability in that region. The surface soil loss has been extensively studied, and many studies have been conducted to investigate the...

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Main Authors:	Ligang Zhou, Xiangdong Wang, Zhaoyan Wang, Xiaoming Zhang, Cheng Chen, Huifang Liu
Format:	Article
Language:	English
Published:	KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2020-03-01
Series:	International Soil and Water Conservation Research
Online Access:	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633919301984

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spelling	doaj-3eef1354e87b4585bec4f90cb680314d2021-04-02T11:54:52ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.International Soil and Water Conservation Research2095-63392020-03-01812634The challenge of soil loss control and vegetation restoration in the karst area of southwestern ChinaLigang Zhou0Xiangdong Wang1Zhaoyan Wang2Xiaoming Zhang3Cheng Chen4Huifang Liu5State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Research and Hydropower Research, Beijing, 100048, China; Research Center of Water and Soil Conservation Ecological Engineering and Technology, Beijing, 100048, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Research and Hydropower Research, Beijing, 100048, China; Research Center of Water and Soil Conservation Ecological Engineering and Technology, Beijing, 100048, China; Corresponding author. State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Research and Hydropower Research, Beijing, 100048, China.State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Research and Hydropower Research, Beijing, 100048, China; Research Center of Water and Soil Conservation Ecological Engineering and Technology, Beijing, 100048, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Research and Hydropower Research, Beijing, 100048, China; Research Center of Water and Soil Conservation Ecological Engineering and Technology, Beijing, 100048, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Research and Hydropower Research, Beijing, 100048, China; Research Center of Water and Soil Conservation Ecological Engineering and Technology, Beijing, 100048, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Research and Hydropower Research, Beijing, 100048, China; Research Center of Water and Soil Conservation Ecological Engineering and Technology, Beijing, 100048, ChinaSoil loss, both from surface soil loss and subsurface soil leakage, in the karst regions of southwestern China is a serious environmental problem that threatens sustainability in that region. The surface soil loss has been extensively studied, and many studies have been conducted to investigate the causes, impacts and mechanisms involved, but the study of subsurface soil leakage has received little attention due to the difficulties in studying the natural conditions. There is no consensus on the overall proportions between surface soil loss and subsurface soil leakage. To control soil loss, improve ecological restoration, and help locals out of poverty, the Chinese government carried out a series of ecological restoration projects in the karst regions of southwestern China starting in the 1980s. As a result, the intensity and areal extent of soil loss continues to decrease and the ecological situation is steadily improving. However, because of the fragile ecosystem in the karst regions, the soil loss control is a long-term task, and the soil loss in some karst regions continues to be a problem. Subsequently, we put forward some suggestions for the policy makers relative to conservation of soil loss and vegetation restoration. These suggestions include: (1) government, private organizations and individuals are encouraged to raise funds for soil loss control and vegetation restoration; (2) nature reserves should be established to increase biodiversity; (3) engineering projects such as small reservoirs, ponds, and flow diversion channels should be constructed in marginal karst regions. Keywords: Karst, Soil loss, Vegetation restoration, Southwestern Chinahttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633919301984
collection	DOAJ
language	English
format	Article
sources	DOAJ
author	Ligang Zhou Xiangdong Wang Zhaoyan Wang Xiaoming Zhang Cheng Chen Huifang Liu
spellingShingle	Ligang Zhou Xiangdong Wang Zhaoyan Wang Xiaoming Zhang Cheng Chen Huifang Liu The challenge of soil loss control and vegetation restoration in the karst area of southwestern China International Soil and Water Conservation Research
author_facet	Ligang Zhou Xiangdong Wang Zhaoyan Wang Xiaoming Zhang Cheng Chen Huifang Liu
author_sort	Ligang Zhou
title	The challenge of soil loss control and vegetation restoration in the karst area of southwestern China
title_short	The challenge of soil loss control and vegetation restoration in the karst area of southwestern China
title_full	The challenge of soil loss control and vegetation restoration in the karst area of southwestern China
title_fullStr	The challenge of soil loss control and vegetation restoration in the karst area of southwestern China
title_full_unstemmed	The challenge of soil loss control and vegetation restoration in the karst area of southwestern China
title_sort	challenge of soil loss control and vegetation restoration in the karst area of southwestern china
publisher	KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
series	International Soil and Water Conservation Research
issn	2095-6339
publishDate	2020-03-01
description	Soil loss, both from surface soil loss and subsurface soil leakage, in the karst regions of southwestern China is a serious environmental problem that threatens sustainability in that region. The surface soil loss has been extensively studied, and many studies have been conducted to investigate the causes, impacts and mechanisms involved, but the study of subsurface soil leakage has received little attention due to the difficulties in studying the natural conditions. There is no consensus on the overall proportions between surface soil loss and subsurface soil leakage. To control soil loss, improve ecological restoration, and help locals out of poverty, the Chinese government carried out a series of ecological restoration projects in the karst regions of southwestern China starting in the 1980s. As a result, the intensity and areal extent of soil loss continues to decrease and the ecological situation is steadily improving. However, because of the fragile ecosystem in the karst regions, the soil loss control is a long-term task, and the soil loss in some karst regions continues to be a problem. Subsequently, we put forward some suggestions for the policy makers relative to conservation of soil loss and vegetation restoration. These suggestions include: (1) government, private organizations and individuals are encouraged to raise funds for soil loss control and vegetation restoration; (2) nature reserves should be established to increase biodiversity; (3) engineering projects such as small reservoirs, ponds, and flow diversion channels should be constructed in marginal karst regions. Keywords: Karst, Soil loss, Vegetation restoration, Southwestern China
url	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633919301984
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The challenge of soil loss control and vegetation restoration in the karst area of southwestern China

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