Full Length Research Paper

Improving the eco-environment in the western-China by applying local tree species: Issues and implications for global arid areas

Li Dong-Mei^{1, 6#}, Liu Zeng-Hui^5#, Shao Hong-Bo^2,3,4,5*, Wu Gang¹*

¹State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Bejing100085, China.

²Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-Environmental Science for Yellow River Delta, Binzhou University, Binzhou, Shandong 256603, China.

³State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yangling 712100, China.

⁴Yantai Institute of Costal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Yantai 264003, China.

⁵Institute for Life Sciences, Qingdao University of Science and Technology (QUST), Qingdao 266042, China.

⁶Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing10049, China.

*Corresponding authors.  E-mail: shaohongbochu@126.com and wug@rcees.ac.cn.

Abbreviations: SOD, superoxide dismutase; POD, peroxidase; CAT, catalase; MDA, malondialdehyde; Vc, vitamine C; Ve, vitamine E; GSH, reduced glutathione.

^#These authors contributed equally to this paper

Accepted 24 August, 2009

   Abstract

Local tree species would perform an important role in forestation, because they have more advantages than exotic species in terms of the physiological and adaptation aspects. In this article, we discussed some main factors which affect the drought resistance of trees and depict some anti-drought characteristics and mechanisms of some local species. These factors include osmoregulation, antioxidant system, transpiration and the shape and structure of trees. At the same time, we also make some suggestions and discussions for the application of typical local tree species in the west-China for improving regional, national and international environmental quality.

Key words: Loess Plateau, local tree species, soil water, drought resistance, osmoregulation, environmental management, arid and semiarid areas.