Restoration of Species· Diversity in Semi-arid Sandy Land Degraded by Overgrazing and Cultivation

Abstract

The major challenges. in biodiversity conservation in arid and semi-arid lands lie not so much in the biology of the species concerned, but in the social, economic, and political arenas within which people operate. We assessed the natural restoration of species diversity in a semi-arid region by examining the species richness, species dominance, diversity index (a diversity and P diversity), ecological dominance, community evenness, life form cornposition and family composition between six communities protected from grazing for 3, 6, 10, 18, 30 and 45 years. Species diversity and species richness were maximum in community with the longest protection time. Perennials and Gramineae plants played a more important role in communities with longer protection years. The results showed that protection from anthropogenic disturbances such as overgrazing, cultivation, etc. is relatively easy, low-cost and practical way for biodiversity conservation in seriously desertified regions.