Abstract:The Southern margin of the Taklimakan Desert is one of the most severe desertification areas in China. The major reason is that the natural vegetation there has been seriously destroyed by human activity. The restoration of natural vegetation depends on the understanding of biological characteristics of the natural vegetation. A China-EU joint project (ERBIC18CT980275, 1998~2001)was carried out to find an ecological basis for sustainable management of natural vegetation in the southern margin of the Taklima...