李方超

China

First on our list of how countries are fighting desertification is China. Research shows that currently 27.4% of land in China has undergone desertification， affecting about 400 million people. How is China working to tackle desertification？ The nation implemented the “Great Green Wall Of China1” project in 1978 to hold back the expansion of the Gobi Desert and provide timber to the local population. A quarter of all landmass is desert in China， which until recently was rapidly expanding. Some causes and impacts of desertification include “aeolian desertification，” caused by wind erosion after vegetation is destroyed， “water and soil loss，” caused by water erosion mainly distributed in the Loess plateau， “salinisation，” caused by poor water management and “rock desertification，” mainly occurring in the Karst region of Southwestern China.

The Great Green Wall project is expected to continue until 2050 and aims to plant around 88 million acres of forests in a wall stretching about 4 800 km and as wide as 1 400 km in some places. The government has subsidised and added numerous major afforestation projects in more recent years， resulting in the biggest tree-planting project in human history.

The results have so far been positive， as thousands of acres of moving dunes have been stabilised and the frequency of sandstorms nationwide fell by one-fifth between 2009 and 2014.

Africa

Stretching from Senegal to Djibouti， the Great Green Wall of Africa was conceived in 2007 by the African Union as a 7 000 km barrier intended to hold back the Sahara and Sahel deserts. The “wall” is intended to improve livelihoods in the regions impacted by droughts in the Sahel region， sequester carbon dioxide2 and reduce conflict， terrorism and migration. However， lack of funding， technical support and poor oversight has marred the progress of the project. The Great Green Wall of Africa has covered only 4% of its target area more than halfway through its 2030 completion date， according to a UN status report.

However， the project has thus far created more than 350 000 new jobs， USD 90 million in revenue and 18 million hectares of land restoration in participating countries. This 18 million hectares includes landscapes involved in other related regional initiatives as well as 12 million hectares under restoration in Ethiopia alone.

The results varied from country to country. Ethiopia is a frontrunner， having reportedly planted 5.5 billion seedlings. Other countries have lagged largely because of different geographies， levels of governance and economic development. Burkina Faso planted 16.6 million plants and seedlings and Chad 1.1 million， although both nations received more financial support for the project.

Jordan

Jordan is at risk of rapid desertification. It receives little rainfall， with 90% of the country receiving less than 200 mm a year. Deforestation， soil erosion， inappropriate land use and cultivation practices， climate change and drought all contribute to increasing desertification. Rapid urbanisation has also taken a toll. Continuing desertification could have a far-reaching environmental， social and economic impact. For example， the Badia area of Jordan is the main region for livestock production and many people in Badia depend on the rangeland to make a living. Faced with the prospect of losing their livelihood， many of the farmers in Badia might move into the cities looking for work， putting more pressure on urban areas. Less arable land and fewer farmers could also mean decreased food production.

To combat desertification， Jordan is implementing a project funded under NATOs Science for Peace and Security （SPS） Programme. Scientists are conducting research in the Yarmouk Basin， a 1 400 sq km area in the Badia region. Most of the area is at risk for high rates of soil loss by wind and water， which can lead to desertification. Researchers will develop a system to monitor changes in the soil， water， vegetation and climate using remote sensing tools and geographic information system models. This way it will be possible to warn the Jordanian government that desertification is taking place， before it is too late to take action.

The project will also help build capacity among Jordanian researchers and end users. In the first year of the project， young researchers and scientists received training on instruments used to calibrate remote-sensing data for drought monitoring， as well as on the use of new techniques for desertification mapping and soil-moisture monitoring.

Australia

Australia has made Indigenous people guardians of more than 40% of its national reserves.

Indigenous Protected Areas （IPAs） are areas of land and sea managed by Indigenous groups as protected areas for biodiversity conservation through voluntary agreements with the Australian government. IPAs are an essential component of Australias National Reserve System， the network of formally recognised parks， reserves and protected areas across Australia. There are currently 78 dedicated IPAs over 74 million hectares， accounting for more than 46% of the National Reserve System.

IPAs deliver more than environmental benefits. Managing IPAs helps Indigenous communities protect the cultural values of their country for future generations and results in significant health， education， economic and social benefits.

Ethiopia

Last on our list of countries fighting desertification is Ethiopia. It is one of the worlds most vulnerable country to desertification， and it greatly impairs the food security of millions of rural dwellers living in Ethiopias arid and semi-arid regions. Intensive livestock farming and the need for land to plough are the major factors behind these threats to the environment.

To combat desertification， the government intends to restore 22 million hectares of drylands in Ethiopia by 2030. It works in tandem with the UNs Food and Agriculture Organization （FAO） and partners， supporting the Great Green Wall initiative. In 2016， FAOs Action Against Desertification started operating in Ethiopia. It is active in the Gollina， Metema and Raya-Azebo districts of Ethiopias Afar， Amhara and Tigray regional states.

Between 2016 and 2018， 1 600 hectares of degraded land were planted to initiate their restoration， mainly through enrichment of woodlands， assisted natural regeneration and sustainable land management practices.

These countries and regions that are fighting desertification should serve as a word of caution to other countries who are at the tipping point of experiencing devastating land degradation.

中国

关于各地如何治理荒漠化，我们先来说中国。研究表明：中国荒漠化的国土面积目前已达27.4%，约4亿人受其影响。中国为应对荒漠化做了哪些努力？1978年，中国实施“绿色长城”工程，遏制戈壁沙漠扩张，并为当地居民提供木材。中国有1/4的荒漠化国土面积，直至最近一直在快速扩张。荒漠化的起因及其影响包括：植被遭破坏，经风蚀形成“沙漠化”;水蚀致“水土流失”，主要发生在黄土高原;水资源管理不善，引起“盐渍化”;以西南喀斯特地貌地区为主发生“石漠化”。

“绿色长城”工程预计延续至2050年，目标是种植约8800万英亩的森林，形成一道长约4800千米，在某些地方宽度可达1400千米的屏障。中国政府近几年投入资金并推进了许多大型人工造林工程，成就了人类历史上最大的植树造林工程。

截至目前，成效是显著的：数千英亩的流动沙丘已得到固定;2009—2014年，全国范围内的沙尘暴频率减少了1/5。

非洲

2007年，非洲联盟提出“非洲绿色长城”构想，意在遏制撒哈拉沙漠和萨赫勒干旱区的蔓延;“长城”从塞内加尔至吉布提绵延约7000千米。这座“长城”意欲改善遭受干旱影响的萨赫勒地区居民的生存条件，封存二氧化碳以及减少冲突、恐怖主义和人口流动。然而，由于缺乏资金投入和技术支持，并且监管不善，工程进展缓慢。联合国调查报告表明：该工程计划2030年竣工，目前时间过半，却仅仅建成了“非洲绿色长城”目标面积的4%。

尽管如此，这项工程迄今已在参与国家创造35万个以上新岗位，带来9000万美元的收入，恢复1800万公顷土地。这1800万公顷包含在其他相关地方性倡议下恢复的面积和埃塞俄比亚这一个国家正在修复的1200万公顷。

各国成效不尽相同。埃塞俄比亚是领跑者，据说已种植55亿株苗木。非洲其他国家主要由于地理环境、治理水平和经济发展的差异而滞后。布基纳法索栽种了1660万株植物和苗木，乍得共和国种了110万株，尽管这两个国家都从该项目获得了较多的资金支持。

约旦

约旦正处于急速荒漠化的危机之中。这个国家降水少，90%的地区一年降雨量不到200毫米。滥伐森林、土壤流失、土地利用和耕种方式不当、气候变化以及干旱等因素共同导致了荒漠化加剧，快速城市化也难辞其咎。持续荒漠化可能对环境、社会和经济产生深远的影响。例如，约旦的巴迪亚地区是主要的畜牧产区，在这里许多人靠牧场谋生。面对失去生计的风险，巴迪亚的许多牧民可能会前往城市寻找工作，这会给城市带来更多压力。可耕地和农民减少可能也意味着粮食产量降低。

为阻止荒漠化，约旦正在落实由北约和平与安全科学计划资助的一项工程。科学家目前正在巴迪亚地区1400平方千米的耶尔穆克盆地开展研究。由于风和水的侵蚀，这一地区大部分土地正处于土壤急速流失的危机之中，这会造成荒漠化。研究人员将采用遥感工具和地理信息系统模型，开发出一个监控土壤、水、植被和气候变化的系统。这样便可以提醒约旦政府关注正在发生的荒漠化，及时采取行动。

这项工程也将提升约旦研究人员和终端使用者的能力。该工程实施的第一年，年轻的科研人员接受了校正干旱监控遥感数据工具的培训，以及荒漠化制图和土壤湿度监控新技术的使用培训。

澳大利亚

澳大利亚让原住民守卫着40%以上的国家保护区。

作为生物多样性保护区，原住民保护区是原住民群体与澳大利亚政府签订自愿协议后负责管理的陆地和海域。原住民保护区是澳大利亚国家保护体系的一个重要组成部分。该体系由澳大利亚正式认可的公园、自然保护区和其他保护区构成。目前78个专门的原住民保护区分布在超过7400万公顷的国土之上，超过国家保护体系的46%。

原住民保护区带来的不只是环境效益。管理保护区有助于土著社区为子孙后代保护家园的文化价值，从而产生显著的健康、教育、经济和社会效益。

埃塞俄比亚

最后要说的国家是埃塞俄比亚。它是全世界最易受荒漠化影响的国家之一。荒漠化大大损害了生活在埃塞俄比亚干旱和半干旱地区数百万农村居民的粮食安全。集约畜牧业和对耕地的需求是造成这些环境威胁的主要因素。

为应对荒漠化，该国政府计划到2030年完成2200萬公顷的旱地修复。该国政府与联合国粮食及农业组织和伙伴合作，支持“绿色长城”倡议。2016年，粮农组织“防治荒漠化行动”在埃塞俄比亚启动。这项行动在埃塞俄比亚阿法尔州的戈利纳、阿姆哈拉州的默特马以及提格雷州的拉亚-阿兹博地区如火如荼地进行。

2016—2018年，埃塞俄比亚启动修复工程，增绿退化土地1600公顷，主要是通过植树造林、协助自然再生和可持续土地管理的方法实现。

对于即将爆发灾难性土地退化危机的国家，这些正应对荒漠化的国家或地区应为前车之鉴。

（译者为“《英语世界》杯”翻译大赛获奖者;单位：四川民族学院）