Study on desertification reversal factors in Maowusu sandy land in China

¹ School of Economics & Management, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
² School of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211106, China
³ School of Business, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
⁴ School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
⁵ Institute of Agricultural Politics and Monetary Research, Giessen University, D-35390 Giessen, Germany

^* Corresponding author: zhangyin@bjfu.edu.cn.

Abstract

Based on the data of China’s economic and social big data platform from 2000 to 2019, this paper studies and analyzes the development status and influencing factors of desertification in Maowusu sandy land in China. Based on the exploratory analysis (EFA) and the dummy variable regression model (DVRM), the research result shows that the annual precipitation is the main climate factor affecting the vegetation coverage in this area. And for every 100 mm increase in annual precipitation, vegetation coverage will increase by 10%. In addition, the annual average temperature also has a significant impact on the vegetation coverage. For every 1 °C increase in the annual average temperature, the vegetation coverage will increase by 2.5%. Analysis of policy factors shows that the policy effects of the 2005 National Desert Control Plan (2005-2010) and the 2011 National Desert Control Plan (2011-2020) etc. can increase vegetation coverage by 3.4% and 4.7%respectively compared with the base period level in 2000. The study reveals the important role of climate and policy factors in the reversion of desertification in Maowusu sandy land. The study is of great significance and value to desertification management and related policy-making in China.