Assessment and Driving Factors of Desertification Vulnerability in the Mu Us Sandy Land, China: A MEDALUS-Based Approach

Authors

  • Yu Ren

    1. Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; 2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Xidong Chen

    Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Hydrosphere and Watershed Water Security, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450011, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v7i6.8974
Received: 5 March 2025 | Revised: 15 April 2025 | Accepted: 22 April 2025 | Published Online: 9 June 2025

Abstract

As a major worldwide issue, desertification poses significant threats to ecosystem stability and long-term socio-economic growth. Within China, the Mu Us Sandy land represents a crucial region for studying desertification phenomena.  Comprehending how desertification risks are distributed spatially and what mechanisms drive them remains fundamental for implementing effective strategies in land management and risk mitigation. Our research evaluated desertification vulnerability across the Mu Us Sandy land by applying the MEDALUS model, while investigating causal factors via geographical detector methodology. Findings indicated that territories with high desertification vulnerability extend across 71,401.7 km², constituting 76.87% of the entire region, while zones facing extreme desertification hazard cover 20,578.9 km² (22.16%), primarily concentrated in a band-like pattern along the western boundary of the Mu Us Sandy land. Among the four primary indicators, management quality emerged as the most significant driver of desertification susceptibility, followed by vegetation quality and soil quality. Additionally, drought resistance, land use intensity, and erosion protection were identified as the key factors driving desertification sensitivity. The investigation offers significant theoretical perspectives that can guide the formulation of enhanced strategies for controlling desertification and promoting sustainable land resource utilization within the Mu Us Sandy land region.

Keywords:

Desertification Risk; MEDALUS; Geographical Detector Method; Driving Factors

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How to Cite

Ren, Y., & Chen, X. (2025). Assessment and Driving Factors of Desertification Vulnerability in the Mu Us Sandy Land, China: A MEDALUS-Based Approach. Journal of Environmental & Earth Sciences, 7(6), 213–226. https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v7i6.8974

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 6 (June 2025): In Progress

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Article

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Copyright © 2025 Yu Ren, Xidong Chen

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.

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