Targeted Location and Population:
The target area, Changji district is located in the northern slope of Tianshan mountain and southern fringe of Junggur Basin, which is an important area of research on biodiversity conservation in desert areas of China. Due to the unique geographical position, there are some complexity and diversity of biota composition in the basin. It reserves some ancient biological component. Furthermore, some endemic species are in existence there.

Local residents cultivate various crops including wheat, rice, cotton and sugar beet.Uygur is mainly local ethnic minority group. Han people are usually lived in the southern oasis city, farm and industrial area. The average annual income of local people is about 3000RMB.

Problems:
Due to the unreasonable utilization of natural resources and the lack of scientific management, primarily because of overgrazing and disorder land cultivation, the desert ecosystem of this area is severely affected by the unsustainable way of production and operation, the biodiversity is under serious threat, some of the important species have become extinct or the populations sizes reduced sharply, the environmental problems have become increasingly prominent.Particularly since nearly half a century, due to the over-exploitation of the biological resources, hunting and the disturbances of major projects, the important wild biological resources of Junggar Basin Desert was destroyed seriously, some of the species have become extinct or endangered, the biodiversity reduced greatly.

Solutions/ planned activities:
1. Establish a shared data base of biodiversity fundamental information in Junggar Desert ecosystems.

2.Identify the target for the local biodiversity conservation; by conducting capacity building training, to promote sustainable agricultural/ animal husbandry mode of production which can contribute to biodiversity conservation and land degradation control, to stimulate steady increase in production and incomes and poverty alleviation of the local farmers and herdsmen, to promote the community?s participation in biodiversity conservation and sustainable management.

3. Raise public awareness of different target groups: government officials, farmers and herdsmen, women and the poor by organizing related expedition, seminar and forum.

Anticipated results/ immediate outputs of this project:

1. about 40 national protected or endangered species of animals and 350 species of plants are includded in an special internet database.

2. about 30 biodiversity managers and 30 families (20 families of herdsmen and 10 families of farmers) have the knowledge of important species in Junggar Desert.

3. about 1000 Mu Haloxylon ammodendron forest and Cistanche deserticola are planted and the local residents? annual income increases about 500RMB.

4.A consulting report ?sustainable production mode in North Xinjiang?s farming and pastoral areas based on biodiversity conservation? is compliled and submitted to local government as reference for policy-making.