Desertification Assessment Indicator System in China

Based on the definition of desertification adopted by United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and or Desertification, particularly in Africa, first,the patterns of desertification in China are introduced. Second, desertification assessment indicator system that used in China is presented. It includes:(1) climate classification; (2) classification of land use; (3) classification of desertification patterns which include wind erosion,water erosion,salinization,and grassland degradation; (4) grading index of desertification that includes grading index of desertification caused by wind erosion,desertification caused by water erosion,desertification caused by salinization,indicators of grassland degradation classification. At last,some detailed factors that can be used as indicators in desertification assessment are discussed.