作者：Mona Dawelbait

翻译：李菁菁

为了共同致力于荒漠化防治，联合国粮食及农业组织（粮农组织）和沙特国家植被覆盖与荒漠化防治中心的成员对中国甘肃省治沙研究所进行了考察访问。这次访问是在线上交流培训之后进行的，线上交流培训的重点是土地退化防治、植被管理、牧场保护和建立国家公园。这次考察访问的目的是在甘肃省治沙研究所学习掌握荒漠化防治和促进土地可持续管理的实践经验和理论知识。

应对土地退化和荒漠化挑战

土地退化和荒漠化对全世界的生态系统、生物多样性和粮食安全构成重大威胁。认识到应对这些挑战的紧迫性，粮农组织和沙特国家植被覆盖与荒漠化防治中心一直在积极合作，旨在提高沙特阿拉伯在防治土地退化和促进可持续土地管理方面的能力。

线上交流能力建设

由粮农组织和甘肃省治沙研究所组织的线上培训班，为该领域的全球专家、研究人员和从业人员提供了一个知识共享和合作的平台。该培训班的重点是土地退化评估方法和技术、土地退化防治的最佳做法、植被管理的实践经验和技术、牧场可持续保护方法以及国家公园的建立和管理等。

访问甘肃省治沙研究所

线上交流培训班取得成功后，粮农组织通过与甘肃省治沙研究所密切联系，组织了一次赴中国考察活动，探讨中国在荒漠化防治和遏制风沙危害方面的丰富经验、最佳做法和先进技术。中国甘肃省治沙研究所以其在荒漠化防治、生态系统恢复、土地可持续管理和荒漠化监测等方面的开创性工作而闻名遐迩。通过考察学习，代表粮农组织、沙特国家植被覆盖与荒漠化中心和非政府组织的14名考察团成员获得了荒漠化防治和监测方面的创新技术和宝贵知识，提高了考察团成员的技术技能，并将有助于他们在各自区域实施试点项目。

访问期间，团员们有幸参观了甘肃省治沙研究所的研究基地和设施，与专家进行了交流，并亲眼目睹了荒漠化防治的前沿技术和应用。本次考察还组织了实地学习仪器和机械应用，考察学习了中国成功的土地恢复项目、植树造林工作和创新技术的应用，特别是固沙和节水技术。本次考察也组织了讨论和学术交流，使与会者交流、分享了荒漠化防治方面的经验、面临的挑战和取得的教训。

主要成果和未来影响

到中国甘肃省治沙研究所的学习之旅是一次特殊的经历，收获颇丰，意义深远。考察团成员获得了土地退化防治、生态系统恢复、和土地可持续管理等方面的创新技术、的宝贵知识和实践经验。这次考察还促进了专家之间的互相联系和协作，促进了大家相互之间思想和经验的交流。

这次考察中获得的的经验和教训，将有助于制定和实施土地退化和荒漠化防治方面的针对性策略、政策和项目。粮农组织和沙特国家植被覆盖与荒漠化防治中心，将把从甘肃省治沙研究所学得的知识应用到各自部门的具体工作中，在退化土地恢复，保护森林和牧场，有效建立和管理国家公园等方面尽自己最大努力做好工作。

对中国和甘肃省治沙研究所的考察是粮农组织和沙特国家植被覆盖与荒漠化防治中心在土地退化和荒漠化防治方面的一个重要里程碑。此次考察，通过学术交流、能力建设和实践经验学习，帮助团员掌握了必要的知识经验，以应对这些紧迫的环境挑战问题。目前，国际社会在共同努力实现土地管理的可持续利用，以确保实现相关领域的可持续发展目标，这些举措为建设更具承受力和更有活力的生态系统铺平了道路。总之，此次考察促进了考察团与中国相关科研机构和研究人员联系，为未来的可持续发展奠定了基础。

Saudi experts explore experience of Gansu Desert Control Research Institute in China in combatting desertification

11 September 2023 – In a collaborative effort to combat desertification, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the National Center of Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification (NCVC) embarked on a study visit to the Gansu Desert Control Research Institute in China (GDCRI). This visit comes after an extensive online exchange capacity-building programme focused on land degradation control, forest management, rangeland preservation, and the establishment of national parks. The study visit aimed to gain practical insights and knowledge from the GDCRI expertise in tackling desertification and promoting sustainable land management practices. 

Addressing land degradation and desertification challenges

Land degradation and desertification pose significant threats to ecosystems, biodiversity, and food security worldwide. Recognizing the urgency of addressing these challenges, FAO and NCVC have been actively working together to enhance capacities in combating land degradation and promoting sustainable land management in Saudi Arabia. 

Online Exchange Capacity Building

The online exchange capacity building programme, organized by FAO and GDCRI, provided a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration among global experts, researchers, and practitioners in the field. The programme focused on land degradation assessment methods and techniques, best practices in land degradation control, forest management practices and technologies, sustainable rangeland preservation methods, and the establishment and management of national parks among others. 

Visit to Gansu Desert Control Research Institute

Following the successful online exchange programme, FAO organized a study tour to China in close collaboration with GDCRI to explore China's extensive experience, best practices and advanced technologies in combating desertification and reducing sand encroachment. Located in China, the Gansu Desert Control Research Centre is renowned for its pioneering work in desertification control, ecosystem restoration, sustainable land management and monitoring desertification. Fourteen participants, representing FAO, NCVC and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), gained valuable knowledge of innovative approaches in combating and monitoring desertification, which improved their technical skills and inspired them to implement pilot projects in their respective regions. 

During the visit, participants had the opportunity to explore GDCRI's research facilities, interact with experts, and witness first-hand the projects and initiatives implemented to combat desertification. Field visits were organized to observe successful Chinese land rehabilitation projects, afforestation efforts, and the use of innovative technologies, such as sand-fixation and water conservation methods. The participants also engaged in discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions to exchange experiences, challenges, and lessons learned. 

Key Outcomes and Future Implications

The study tour to China and GDCRI was an exceptional experience and delivered great results with far-reaching implications. Participants gained valuable knowledge and practical insights into effective land degradation control measures, innovative technologies for ecosystem restoration, and sustainable land management practices. The visit also facilitated networking and collaboration among experts and practitioners, fostering the exchange of ideas and experiences. 

The experiences and lessons learned from the visit will undoubtedly contribute to the development of targeted strategies, policies, and projects in combating land degradation and desertification. By integrating the knowledge gained from the GDCRI into their respective regions’ initiatives, FAO and NCVC can further enhance their efforts to restore degraded lands, conserve forests and rangelands, and establish and manage national parks effectively.

 The study tour to China and the GDCRI marked a significant milestone in the collaborative efforts of FAO and NCVC to combat land degradation and desertification. By fostering knowledge exchange, capacity building, and practical learning experiences, this visit has helped equip experts and practitioners with the necessary tools to address these pressing environmental challenges. As the global community collectively works towards sustainable land management to ensure the achievement of related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such initiatives pave the way for a more resilient and vibrant ecosystem. Additionally, the study tour facilitated the development of an active network with Chinese institutes and researchers for a sustainable future.

11/09/2023