位于首都圈北部内蒙古高原的浑善达克沙地是威胁京津地区的一个主要风沙源区,近几十年来荒漠化发展十分迅速,但相应的荒漠化研究却很薄弱。目前对该区一些局部地区的研究已经揭示了荒漠化快速发展的趋势,但仍缺乏整个沙地荒漠化状况全面和细致的了解。虽然过度放牧等不合理的人类活动被看作是该区荒漠化的主要驱动力,但只有揭示人类生产系统与土地系统之间的反馈作用机制,才能深刻认识荒漠化的成因,才有望对防治荒漠化提供有效的理论依据。最后,提出了围绕浑善达克沙地荒漠化问题需要开展的4个方面的研究工作,即潜在生态系统空间格局、荒漠化动态与监测、荒漠化机理、土地质量评价与土地承载力确定。

The desertification concept was introduced into China in 1977 when the United Nations Conference on Desertification was held Although much research on it has been done since then, the exact status and causes of desertification are still beyond researchers’ understanding Over the past 50 years, the losing rate of land to desertification has been escalating Among the most severe desertified areas is the Ortindag Sandy Land, located in Inner Mongolia plateau and to the north of Beijing, which is a dust and sand source area that threatens Beijing and Tianjin regions It is experiencing severe desertification, whereas there is short of relevant studies on it at present The trend of rapid expansion of desertification was realized through researches on some local areas in this region The desertification status and trends in the whole region of Ortindag Sandy Land, however, are still unclear To date, knowledge about the causes of desertification is no more than a general understanding that irrational human activities such as overgrazing can induce desertification Human production system and land system interlace and interact There is a complex feedback mechanism between them It is vital to reveal the feedback mechanism for the understanding of the causes of desertification and control of desertification Finally, we advocate four key issues and research priorities relevant to desertification of the Ortindag Sandy Land, ie potential ecosystem spatial patterns, desertification trends and monitoring, desertification mechanisms.