A drone photo taken in August 2025 shows a sample plot for experiments at the the Xilingol Grassland Ecosystem National Field Observation and Research Station in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Chinese Academy of Sciences/Handout via Xinhua)

HOHHOT, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- When scientists established China's first ecosystem research station for temperate steppe on this vast grassland 46 years ago, it took a five-hour drive to the nearest town just to make a phone call.

Today, the scene has changed dramatically: drones soar overhead, satellites monitor from space, and LiDAR technology meticulously scans the vegetation below. This integrated network is aimed at safeguarding the grasslands of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in northern China.

The Xilingol Grassland Ecosystem National Field Observation and Research Station has been consistently monitoring the key variables and properties of the biosphere, atmosphere, soil, and water in grassland ecosystems, accumulating decades of valuable data.

"The Xilingol grassland represents semi-arid grassland ecosystems and is a crucial part of the vast Eurasian steppe. It plays a vital role in the ecological and socio-economic development of northern China," said Bai Yongfei, head of the station and a researcher at the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

In collaboration with the Xilingol Grassland National Nature Reserve, the station conducts both fundamental research -- investigating ecosystem structure and functions, nutrient cycles, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience to climate change -- and applied studies focused on restoring degraded grasslands, establishing artificial grasslands, and optimizing grazing management. These efforts support the ecological security of northern China and promote sustainable grassland use, Bai said.

To address the increasing challenges of restoring degraded grasslands, the station is developing innovative technologies to transition from traditional vegetation restoration methods to near-natural ecosystem recovery.

INNOVATIVE MONITORING TECHNOLOGIES

The nature reserve has developed a smart monitoring platform that integrates data from satellites, drones, ground sensors, and subsoil monitoring. This platform visualizes changes in ecosystems and resources, providing early warnings for ecological risks while streamlining data collection and analysis.

Infrared cameras have captured over 180,000 images of wildlife, identifying 104 species -- including lynx, Pallas's cat, red deer, and roe deer -- demonstrating rich biodiversity, said Sun Changle, deputy director of the reserve.

"Using ground equipment, drones, and satellites, we can track ecosystem energy and matter cycles in greater detail and across larger areas. Various data are automatically recorded every second or, in some cases, every hour, and transmitted in real time to our station and the National Ecosystem Science Data Center," said Wang Yang, the station's executive director.

Scientists use drones equipped with LiDAR and multispectral sensors, along with ground surveys, to monitor Picea mongolica, an endangered tree species. They have developed the first digital 3D atlas of individual trees, providing high-precision data that supports their conservation efforts.

UNDERSTANDING GRASSLAND EVOLUTION

The station has established 175 monitoring plots for plant diversity across the grasslands of Inner Mongolia.

It has developed technologies to observe plant nutrients and ecosystem functions, along with remote sensing methods to monitor grassland degradation. Researchers have mapped high-resolution spatial distributions of species diversity throughout China and the Mongolian Plateau. They have built long-term databases covering climate, soil, topography, socio-economics, land cover, and vegetation properties.

"Forty-six years of monitoring show that ungrazed grasslands host over 160 plant species without degradation. Our two decades of grazing trials demonstrate that optimized grazing prevents degradation, while overgrazing causes it. Even degraded grasslands can recover with scientific interventions, as long as they have not reached a critical state," Bai explained.

For example, when vegetation cover exceeds 60 percent, soil erosion significantly decreases. Avoiding overgrazing and maintaining grass height above 12 centimeters ensures winter snow accumulation and summer soil moisture retention, thereby supporting biodiversity, productivity, and ecosystem resilience, Bai said.

Research also suggests that rotational mowing combined with adaptive grazing can mitigate degradation, whereas overgrazing disrupts plant communities, depletes soil nutrients, and increases locust outbreak risks.

Long-term data reveal changes in soil organic carbon storage in Inner Mongolian grasslands under different management practices over the past 40 years. Mycorrhizal symbiosis -- a partnership between plant roots and fungi -- enhances both plant diversity and soil carbon storage.

Through field surveys and analysis of 6,098 plots across China, combined with climate and human-activity data, the station has confirmed that biodiversity boosts both ecosystem productivity and soil carbon storage.

GRASSLAND RESTORATION WITH CHINESE WISDOM

To address challenges of desertification and grassland degradation caused by climate change and overgrazing, Chinese scientists have developed nature-based solutions that balance ecological and productive goals.

In Xilingol, they established demonstration zones focused on controlling sand movement, restoring degraded grasslands, optimizing pasture management, and constructing cultivated grasslands. Key technologies include wind erosion control methods, rotational mowing combined with adaptive grazing, restoring salinized grassland, and optimizing mixed-grass sowing -- providing practical solutions for combating global desertification.

Through the integration of legumes and grasses, deep-rooted with shallow-rooted species, and drought-tolerant with moisture-loving forage plants, scientists have increased the yields of cultivated grasslands by 5 to 10 times compared to natural grasslands, extending their productive lifespan.

Over the past two decades, the Xilingol station has achieved breakthroughs in sustainable grassland utilization, ecosystem rehabilitation, and biodiversity conservation, with demonstration areas covering over 53,300 hectares.

These practices have been endorsed by the UN Environment Programme as exemplary cases of ecological restoration, disseminating China's solutions worldwide.

"The Xilingol grassland is located in arid and semi-arid areas, similar to many countries along the Belt and Road. Our methods and technical models can provide valuable insights," said Wang. ■

A drone photo taken in August 2025 shows a sample plot for experiments at the the Xilingol Grassland Ecosystem National Field Observation and Research Station in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Chinese Academy of Sciences/Handout via Xinhua)