The ecological significance of accumulated sand-belts along the oasis edge of Hexi of Gansu

In the desert area in Hexi of Gansu,China,an accumulated sand-belt formed along the oasis edge,especially at the upwind places,during the process of desert control. The accumulated sand-belt took over 50 years to form and is a byproduct of combating desertification from afforestation and barriers-setting. In this study,we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the accumulated sand-belts along the Hexi oasis edge as well as data from 21 samples to determine the ecological functions and significance of the accumulated sand-belts. The results showed that: 1) The accumulated sand-belt,as a byproduct of combating desertification along the oasis edge,has a function of blocking wind and sand. 2) Height is an important factor determining the wind-blocking function of an accumulated sand-belt. The taller and bigger the accumulated sand-belts are,the wider the scope of wind-blocking. 3) Currently,the accumulated sand-belt along the Hexi oasis edge is still in the developmental stage. As long as it is under control,the i