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The hidden costs of desert development
Lihui Luo1,2, Yanli Zhuang1,2,3, Wenzhi Zhao4,5
1Linze Inland River Basin Research Station, Key Laboratory of Inland River Basin Ecohydrology, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
Ambio
|November 22, 2019
Summary
Man-made oasis expansion for economic benefits in deserts causes groundwater decline and pollution. This unsustainable development may worsen desertification despite short-term environmental and economic gains.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Hydrology
- Remote Sensing
Background:
- Desert development, driven by economic gains and ecological restoration, relies on man-made oasis expansion.
- The long-term sustainability of this expansion in balancing desertification control and economic growth is uncertain.
- Understanding these dynamics is crucial for global desert development strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the spatial-temporal changes in the desert-oasis ecotone of northwest China over six decades.
- To evaluate the environmental impacts of desert development, including groundwater levels, pollution, and sandstorm frequency.
- To determine the sustainability of oasis expansion strategies.
Main Methods:
- Integration of meteorological, groundwater, and remote-sensing data.
- Utilized groundwater simulation datasets for comprehensive analysis.
- Conducted a six-decade spatial-temporal assessment of the desert-oasis ecotone.
Main Results:
- Desert development led to a significant decline in the surrounding groundwater table.
- Increased pollution in soil and groundwater was observed.
- A higher frequency of strong sandstorms was associated with desert development.
- While appearing to improve the environment and economy, overexploitation of water resources and pollution transfer occurred.
Conclusions:
- Oasis expansion in desert regions presents a complex trade-off between economic benefits and environmental costs.
- The overexploitation of water resources and subsurface pollution pose significant risks to long-term sustainability.
- Current desert development models may inadvertently lead to further desert degradation.
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