Evolution process and comprehensive control of rocky desertification in Honghe state, Yunnan Province

This paper presents the features of evolution of rocky desertification and comprehensive control in Honhhe State, Yunnan Province. Our work uses TM images in 2005, 2011 and 2016 as basic data. Investigations, in-situ validations and monitoring at fixed locations have been conducted to every county and city of the State. Results find that (1) from 2005 to 2016, the ecological environment became better steady, and the area of rocky desertification reduced overall in this region. (2)The rocky desertification were primarily distributed in the middle and northwest. Monitoring data show that the evolution of this process was different among every counties and cities. The area of extremely and very high rocky desertification declined sharply, while moderate and gentle one increased to some extent. (3) Data of 2005 indicate that the reduce rate of rocky desertification was remarkably greater than that of 2011, with a relatively obvious area decrease. (4) The effect of comprehensive control to rocky desertification was prominent. The trends and rates of rocky desertification evolution were complex and variable among every counties and cities. The control effect in a short time was not necessarily very obvious, instead it needs a long term to examine. If the measures taken was not appropriate, the rocky desertification was very easy to occur again and accelerate.