Assessing Controversial Desertification Prevention Policies in Ecologically Fragile and Deeply Impoverished Areas: A Case Study of Marginal Parts of the Taklimakan Desert, China

Overgrazing plays an important role in the grassland desertification global drylands. The effectiveness of policies related to grazing directly affects efforts combat and sustainable rangeland management. However, there remain questions around how interplay poverty implementation policies. To reveal prevention policy that delineates national key ecological function areas (NKEFAs), main objective was perform a sustainability assessment on-site investigation Northwest China. A parallel index system, which integrates indices for economic input–output material supply–demand represent sustainability, interview records from managers questionnaires residents NKEFA policy, proposed comprehensively judge performance underlying causes behind undesirable effects were further analyzed. results indicate (1) control is socioeconomic conditions—a few counties with increased land resource (SLS) are peri-urban or resource-rich; (2) fact benefits not obvious impoverished farmers greatly reduces their enthusiasm preventing desertification; (3) livelihood needs defective compensation force underdeveloped comprehensive quality overdevelop use resources even though they have received subsidies conserving grassland. It concluded interact influence potential performance. Our analysis can help decision makers formulate multiple goals achieve economy–ecology system.