Characteristics of Wetland and Its Conservation in Arid and Semi-arid Areas in Northwest of China

Wetlands in the arid and semi\|arid areas in northwest of China include natural and artificial ones. Wetlands have unique characteristics controlled by environment backgrounds of arid and semi\|arid. Wetlands degradation accelerates and becomes complicated because of both natural and anthropogenic impacts. Wetland area reducing and wetland sandification result in the unbalance of wetland ecosystem and lower the ecological regulating function of wetland. According to the situation of wetland degradation, it is a task of top priority to strengthen the protection and recovery of wetland ecosystem in the arid and semi\|arid areas of northwestern China.