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Multifunctional Land-Use Systems for Managing the Nexus of Environmental Resources pp 11–27Cite as

The Loess Plateau

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Abstract

The Loess Plateau is located in the semi-arid part of China and is regarded as one of the most eroded areas in the world. Based on a review of relevant researches and results, we give a comprehensive summary of the status quo of the Loess Plateau, including its natural environment (e.g., geomorphology and geology, soils, water, climate, vegetation, land use), socioeconomic conditions, and ecological problems and risks. In order to achieve a more sustainable regional development, constraints and challenges are discussed that can be used as a basis for improving implemented management practices. Moreover, ecological problems and risks resulting from control of soil and water loss are raised, which provide implications for ecological and economic development, as well as land-use changes in the region. At the end, we provide some insights and recommendations for the agricultural and economic development of the Loess Plateau.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, No. 26 Xinong Road, 712100, Yangling, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China

    Feng Jiao & Shaoshan An

  2. Industrial Zone Branch of the Environmental Protection Bureau, No. 520 Jindizhong Road, 457000, Puyang, Henan, China

    Xinzeng Wang

  3. Institute of Geological and Mineral Resources Survey, No. 573 Longmen Avenue, 471000, Luoyang, Hanan, China

    Xinping Li

Authors
  1. Xinzeng Wang
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  2. Feng Jiao
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  3. Xinping Li
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  4. Shaoshan An
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shaoshan An .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES), United Nations University, Dresden, Germany

    Lulu Zhang

  2. Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES), United Nations University, Dresden, Germany

    Kai Schwärzel

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Wang, X., Jiao, F., Li, X., An, S. (2017). The Loess Plateau. In: Zhang, L., Schwärzel, K. (eds) Multifunctional Land-Use Systems for Managing the Nexus of Environmental Resources. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54957-6_2

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