Abstract:

As a vital ecological resource in China， the health of the grassland ecosystem in Xinjiang is directly linked to the region's sustainable development and ecological security. This study developed a method for assessing grassland degradation， using climatic production potential （CPP） as a reference baseline and actual grassland productivity （NPP） as a quantitative measure. This approach enabled a quantitative assessment of grassland degradation in Xinjiang from 2001 to 2023 through establishing a natural baseline. The findings indicate that Xinjiang's grassland CPP varies between 60 and 370 g·m^-2·a^-1， displaying a significant spatial differentiation with higher values in the northern regions and lower values in the south， as well as higher values in mountainous zones and lower values at basin edges. Approximately 64% of the grasslands are degraded. Despite a reduction in the severity of grassland degradation over the past two decades， the overall condition remains moderately degraded， with an average degradation level of 33.2%. Local deterioration has been observed in areas such as the Ili River Valley， the Bosten Lake Basin， and the periphery of the Junggar Basin. This assessment method holds clear ecological significance and logical coherence， allowing it to be applied to broad-scale land degradation assessments across various spatial and temporal dimensions. The research outcomes are anticipated to offer methodological innovation for the sustainable management of grassland resources nationwide and for large-scale desertification monitoring. Future enhancements in the estimation accuracy of CPP and detailed field validation are expected to increase its applicability.

Key words: grassland degradation, climatic production potential, degradation baseline, desertification, Xinjiang