Sand-cemented bodies (SCBs) are naturally distributed in some interdune corridors in the central Taklimakan Desert, northwest China. In this study, field-collected SCB particles were used as the experimental material, and wind tunnel experiments were conducted with different sand supplies, wind velocities, and SCB coverages to evaluate SCB wind erosion efficiency and vertical mass flux. The results showed that wind erosion efficiency decreased as SCB coverage increased. When the SCB coverage was above 40%, sand deposition processes occurred only under saturated sand flow, while sand transport remained unaffected by increases in SCB coverage under unsaturated sand flow. Under saturated flow, the highest concentrations of transported sand were found at 0–6 cm above the surface, and the main sand bed process was deposition. The sand bed process changed from aeolian erosion to deposition with increasing SCB coverage and tended to remain stable until the SCB coverage exceeded 40%. By contrast, under unsaturated sand flow, the sand bed process was primarily aeolian erosion, and the highest concentrations of transported sand were found at 0–4 cm above the surface. At high SCB coverage levels (more than 40%), a general balance between aeolian erosion and deposition processes was reached. In summary, increasing SCB coverage had a significant impact on surface wind erosion processes. Thus, SCBs can be used as a novel sand retention material.

The “Chinese Mode” of combating desertification adopts a multi-wheel driven mode in the process of combating desertification, follows the principle of “dual track system”, taking into account ecological construction and economic development, and achieving poverty eradication and development of sand industry through sustainable land management, until achieve harmonious and sustainable development of deserts and human. This paper puts forward the theoretical concept of “Chinese Mode” and analyzes its practical experience, and the author hope to play a reference role in the international cooperation on combating desertification in “The Belt and Road” countries and the Pan-African Great Green Wall. It aims to better participate in the cooperation and development of relevant local industries for enterprises and institutions, and promote the construction of “going out” and “The Belt and Road Green Development Alliance” for afforestation and sand-fixing technologies.

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania known as “the desert of the Republic”, is located in the Western Sahara, which accounted for 2/3 land area of it, the remaining belongs to the edge of the desert semi-desert areas. With the purpose of survival, people are forced to deforestation destroyed the grass, excessive land reclamation, pasture overload use, which has formed a “deepening poverty and desertification, exacerbated by desertification poverty” vicious circle. The paper summarizes the present situation of Mauritania on combating desertification, two aspects of causes and problems in desertification from natural factors and human factors were analyzed respectively, characteristics and countermeasures arising in a desertification combating. Desertification has seriously threatened the people’s survival and development, which have become the country’s urgent need to face. The Mauritanian government has taken a series of effective measures on combating desertification, and Mauritania active in communication and collaboration with an international community in desertification, and actively serves as an agency in “the pan-African Great Green Wall” Initiative.

The Xinjiang region is prone to frequent and complex wind and sand disasters, which present a significant challenge to the sustainable development of local areas. This research uses multi-source data to analyze the spatial distribution of the aeolian environment in Xinjiang, establishes a four-level zoning scheme, and proposes recommendations for ecological management and engineering and control. Results indicate that (1) Xinjiang’s aeolian environment and its types exhibit spatial heterogeneity. The aeolian environment types display a high concentration in the eastern region and a low concentration in the western region. Furthermore, the aeolian environment types are concentrated in the basin region. Moreover, the aeolian environment types exhibit a meridional distribution pattern. (2) A four-level zoning system for aeolian environments in Xinjiang was developed, comprising two first-level zones, seven s-level subzones, 22 third-level wind zones, and 31 fourth-level subdivisions. (3) A structural model for a highway sand control system is proposed for aeolian environment types of subdivisions, including fixing-based, combined blocking and fixing, wind-blocking and sand-transferring, and combined blocking and fixing–transferring. The aeolian environment regionalization program proposed in this study can be a scientific reference for relevant departments in formulating and implementing sand prevention and control planning.

Wind erosion significantly threatens sustainable development in desert regions, causing severe soil degradation. Investigating the influence of roughness elements on wind–sand interactions is vital for devising effective wind erosion control strategies. This study examined the effects of smooth and porous surface roughness elements on wind–sand activity and the wind erosion rate of a sand bed surface. Wind tunnel experiments were conducted with 10% coverage of these elements on the sand bed surface under varying wind speeds. Results showed that porous-surfaced roughness elements were less responsive to wind speed than smooth-surfaced spherical elements, significantly slowing wind erosion and enhancing sand bed stability. The porous-surfaced elements significantly reduced wind erosion rates by 21.8% at low wind speeds (8 m/s) and 18.23% at high wind speeds (14 m/s), compared to smooth-surfaced elements. The porous-surfaced spherical roughness elements effectively reduced the secondary lifting of sand particles by increasing the specific surface area, thereby improving the bed surface’s wind erosion resistance. These findings provide critical insights for optimizing sand control materials and developing more effective wind erosion mitigation strategies, offering a valuable reference for combating desertification.