Hanmei Che, Shengping Zhang

（China Agricultural University）

Abstract：

Desert ecosystem is a representative ecosystem type in northwest China, with unique structure and function. The area of desert ecosystems in China is approximately 1.65 million km2. The functions of desert ecosystems mainly include windbreak and sand fixation, soil conservation, water resource regulation, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, landscape recreation, and biogeochemical cycling of sand and dust. This article preliminarily constructs a relatively systematic evaluation system for desert ecosystem functions and services, and provides feasible evaluation methods and models for various functions and services, laying the foundation for quantitative evaluation of desert ecosystem functions and accounting of their service value. Further research is needed to apply and improve the evaluation system and corresponding evaluation methods, comprehensively and quantitatively assessing the functions and services of the entire desert ecosystem at the national scale.

Key Words：

desert ecosystem; ecosystem function; ecosystem services; evaluation system; evaluation method