SuMaRiO - Sustainable Management of River Oasis along the Tarim River

Our research aimed at a better understanding the role of urban and peri-urban vegetation in the socio-environmental systems of selected oasis cities. We conducted an ex-post analysis of the peri-urban Kökyar-Shelterbelt project in Aksu focusing on institutional and economic dimensions. These insights were combined with empirical results from a socioeconomic survey, semi-structured interviews and several stakeholder dialogues. Thus we gained a holistic picture of the success factors that led to the establishment, maintenance expansion of the protection forest. The trade-offs of such a shelterbelt scheme were analysed by estimating the water consumption and comparing this to the need of natural Tugai-forests at the lower reaches of the Tarim River. This ‘translocation of ecosystem services’ for the benefit of urban dwellers has negative impacts on the natural vegetation downstream. Although agriculture remains the largest consumer of water, attention need to be focused on selecting vegetation structures and species for urban greening which are locally adapted and consume less water than the widely used non-native species. Local species were tested at our experimental and demonstration plot (Aksu). This was established by WP 4.3 as a long term demonstration plot maintained after the end of the project by Xinjiang University.  Empirical research was conducted on existing urban vegetation in Aksu, including a single tree inventory (using WorldView-2 satellite images), measurements of sap-flow of selected tree species as well as measurements of vitality and dust retention capacities of selected trees. The single tree database will be further maintained by the City of Aksu and will serve as a basis for comprehensive planning of urban green. Further accomplishments included an analysis of the heat island effect by using a time series of satellite images of the city of Aksu and analysing the temperatures with increasing distance to public parks. Opinions of local residents regarding the accessibility of urban park green spaces complemented this research. The implementation phase included two training blocks in Aksu and in Korla conducted by Chinese experts.