Abstract:

According to the requirement from the First National Conference on Combating Desert in November， 1958， the Chinese Academy of Sciences organized rapidly the Scientific Investigation Team for Combating Deserts （SITCD， CAS） in the January， 1959 and carried out fieldwork soon， which was the maximal national desert comprehensive survey up to now with the widest areas， the most complete majors， the most diverse team members， and the most concentrated campaigns. This paper， as the pioneering part （1） of the practice on prevention and control of aeolian desertification and the development of desert science in China for 70 years， briefly retrospect the results and experience from a smaller scale desert survey in 1957 and 1958， which was cooperative implemented by Chinese Academy of Sciences and Academy of Sciences of the USSR， and talk over the achievement and positive impacts from the desert comprehensive survey of the Scientific Investigation Team for Combating Deserts， Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1959. Based on the references and available data， every Investigation Team Branch for different desert and Gobi in Northern China had reported the progression of field-survey and the analysis and research mostly focused on the distribution of deserts/Gobi， different genetic types， sand material source area， hazards of sand blown， desert control measures， socioeconomic status， agriculture， forestry， and animal husbandry production. We also specially discus and praise highly the followings milestone events such as （1） the pioneering and development of desert science is the practiced paragon of “task promoting subject development”， （2） “national demand is our first choice” radiated the scientist’s enthusiasm and dedication spirit during 1950s， （3） professional selection and prominent contribution of 8 distinguished scientists， and （4） the international cooperation assisted development of desert science in China.

Key words: prevention and control of aeolian desertification, desert science, 70 years, China, pioneering