Introduction to Gansu Desert Control Research Institute(GDCRI)

Gansu Desert Control Research Institute(GDCRI) was established in 1980 on the foundation of Gansu Minqin Integrated Desert Control Experimental Station , which itself was set up by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1959. It is a provincial-level key scientific research institution affiliated with the Gansu Provincial Forestry and Grassland Administration. Focused primarily on the arid regions of Northwest China, and aligned with the strategic needs of desertification combating and ecological environment improvement across Gansu Province, GDCRI is mainly engaged in basic theoretical and applied technological experimental research, the transfer of scientific research results into productivity, technological training and consultancy services, etc. Its mission addresses scientific issues related to desertification processes and mechanisms, wind-blown sand disaster prevention technologies, the development and utilization of desert resources, and the integrated approaches to the prevention, controlling and utilization of sand. The ultimate goal is to provide theoretical and technological support for desertification combating, eco-environment construction and sustainable socio-economic development in Gansu Province as well as in  Northwest China.

GDCRI currently has 30 scientific research platforms and bases at various levels. Among them, there are 11 national-level stations/bases, such as the State Key Laboratory (Cultivation Base) and Gansu Minqin National Station for Desert Steppe Ecosystem Studies; 11 provincial and ministerial-level research and technology extension platforms, such as Gansu Key Laboratory of Integrated Desertification Combating, Gansu Technology Innovation Center for the Conservation and Utilization of Psammophytes; 8 experimental research stations, either independently or in collaboration with partners. These platforms/ bases have played a significant role in promoting the research related to fundamental theories and technical models for desertification combating home and abroad, particularly in the introduction and application of new technologies.

GDCRI currently has 118 staff members, including 6 division-level administrators and 31 section-level administrators. Among the professional staff, 70% of them hold senior title, including 48 with senior professional titles (12 female) and 33 with associate senior titles (19 female). There are 20 staff with doctoral degrees and 52 with master's degrees, accounting for 62% of the total staff. Additionally, there are 12 master's supervisors, 1 National Outstanding Engineer, 1 expert enjoying the State Council Special Allowance, 2 experts enjoying the Senior Professional Title Special Allowance, 12 provincial leading talents, 7 Longyuan Young Talents, 2 provincial outstanding experts, 5 "Western Light" visiting scholars and 2 Longyuan Young Innovative and Entrepreneurial Talents.

Over the past 67 years since its foundation,GDCRI staff, with generation after generation, have persistently worked on the frontline of wind-blown sand, and made due contributions to the desertification prevention and combating in Gansu, even in China. The institute has successively proposed desert control concepts, such as "hazard-based protection," "sustainable agriculture," "industrial governance," and "precision governance", etc. It has established a desert ecological monitoring system known as the "Two Lines and Seven Sites," primarily covering Hexi Corridor and the inland river basin (Shiyang River Basin). Currently, GDCRI is exploring the construction of a systematic monitoring, research, and governance system targeting Gansu's sandy areas. GDCRI has accumulated first-hand data spanning over 60 years, representing the course and level of China's orientation research of desert ecology. GDCRI, for the first time, quantitatively verified with data that China's implemented forestry and ecological protection projects are important measures for mitigating sandstorm and wind-blown sand damage. More than 30 excellent sand-fixation plant species have been selected, the development, utilization and industrialization of over 10 desert species, such as Allium mongolicum and Agriophyllum squarrosum, have been explored . GDCRI has summarized more than 10 technical models for wind-blown sand damage control and ecological restoration, developed and introduced over 20 new types of sand control materials, and conducted research, development, and application promotion of new sand control equipment such as "miniature sand-fixing machines" and "net-film sand barriers," promoting miniaturization and efficiency in sand control construction.Furthermore, GDCRI has conducted over 43 international scientific and technological cooperation projects and 23 aid-foreign science and technology projects. It has organized 60 international training courses on desertification combating and ecological restoration. More than 1,200 technicians from developing countries participated in the training. Among them, 861 were from "Belt and Road" countries. They came to Gansu to learn desert control technologies. Through which, the experiences in desertification combating and eco-environment management from Gansu and China were extended to 76 countries in 5 continents.

In the past 65 years, scientists and technicians in GDCRI, generation after generation, have persistently worked on the frontline of desert, making outstanding contributions to desertification prevention and combating in Gansu, even in China. GDCRI has undertaken over 620 research projects and achieved 364 scientific and technological results; It has been honored with 108 scientific and technological awards at various levels, including 2 National Science and Technology Progress Awards, 45 provincial and ministerial-level science and technology awards, and 62 awards below the provincial and ministerial levels. GDCRI have published 1,868 scientific papers and 28 research monographs, obtained 293 authorized national patents (including 67 invention patents, 215 utility model patents and 11 design patents). With the great achievements, GDCRI has received recognition and encouragement from national and local governments. It has won over 140 national, provincial, and ministerial-level science and technology awards, such as the "National Science Conference Award," the "Second Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award," the "National Outstanding Scientific and Technological Achievement Award," and the "Gansu Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award." It has been designated as the "Key Research Institute of Gansu Province" and  "Gansu Desertification Combating Expert Service Base" by the Gansu Provincial Government and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Furthermore, it has received more than 30 honorary titles, including "National Advanced Unit for Desert Control Science and Technology," "National Advanced Unit for Forestry Science and Technology," and “the 2023 ‘Gansu Pride • Longren Outstanding Achievers’ Collective Award”, etc.

GDCRI’s Functions:

1. Research the patterns of desertification hazards and desertification prevention/combating technologies; explore new ways for the development and utilization of resources in sandy areas.

2. Undertake national key projects of desert control and key scientific and technological research programs.

3. Carry out mandate of desertification combating, focusing on the introduction, experimental demonstration and extension of advanced technologies, as well as talent training.

GDCRI’s main responsibility:

GDCRI has been being engaged in research on fundamental theory and applied technologies, demonstration and extension of scientific and technological results, transforming scientific results into productivity in the field of desertification combating. To fulfill the responsibility, the institute, facing the arid regions of Northwest China,and in response to the strategic needs of the Gansu’s desertification combating and eco-environment restoration, has always targeted issues related to environmental evolution in arid zones, desertification evolution and mechanisms, wind-blown sand disaster prevention, biodiversity conservation and resource development in sandy areas, ecosystem conservation and restoration in inland river basins,  prevention and controlling of sand-related disaster, utilization of desert resources, as well as talent cultivation and international training in related fields. It aims to provide theoretical and technological support for sand prevention and control, ecological environment construction, and sustainable socio-economic development in Gansu and in Northwest China.