Abstract: Desertification is one of the most serious global problems nowadays.According to China’s situation,not only does desertification occur in dry and semi-dry zones,but in humid and semi-humid zones,as well. The area of desertification-prone land in China is 1117000 km²,accounts for about 11.6 % of the total land of the country,of which,areas of desertification-prone land under wind erosion effect,water erosion effect and physical and chemical effect cover 33.2%,33.8% and 33.0% respectively.In addition,latent desertification-prone land susceptible to wind and water effects are 535000 km² and 875000 km² respectively,and latent salinization-prone land is 173000 km².In China,under fragile eco-condition,desertification is caused by rapid increase of population,irreasonable activities such as misuse of water resources.overreclaimation,overgrazing,undue collection of fuel wood and destruction of soil and vegetation,and environmental pollution due to industrial development.Combating desertification is in fact the rehabilitation of degradated environment.After a few decades of efforts,a few desertification-prone areas are taking a turn for better,but the overall situation is on-going.So that desertification is an important issue for environmental protection and sustainable development and must be paid high attention to.On the basis of summarizing the pilot experience in China,some basic countermeasures of combating desertification are introduced in this paper. 

Key words: China, desertification, land degradation, environmental protection, sustainable develpment