(China Administration Centre for Seabuckthorn Development)

Abstract

It is well known that seabuckthorn has not only play a great role in environment improvement and control, and also in poverty alleviation in poor areas of China, it has a high value in both ecology and economy because of its significant bio-ecological features. In China, there is about 2.622 million km² of desertification lands, which occupies about 27.3% of total country area, which lies mainly in northern-west China where the climate is drought, semi-dry and semi-humid in drought area. Due to dried land surface and no coverage of vegetation, the sandstorm is easy caused when the wind goes up, which not only step up the desertification development, but also brings great damages and loses to city and people.

It has been proved that the desertification development can only be checked or controlled when the vegetation will has been rehabilitated and constructed on a large barren sand lands, vegetation has a significant effect in desertification control. In this great national project, the key problem is the efficient bushes selection in sandy growing condition, and the arbor trees and grasses only second place. A lot of practice works for many years have showed seabuckthorn is the key bush species in the vegetation rehabilitation and construction in the northern-west China. It has a great economic benefit to local farmers as its social and ecological effect goes to work.

This article give a view from seabuckthorn bio-ecological features to practice examples in desertification control, farm land degradation improvement and economy benefits provided to local farmers.

Key words: seabuckthorn, desertification control, China