biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation are serious resource and environmental problems that human beings are facing at present. awareness of biodiversity is growing as populations increase and human demand for resources and the environment grows. protecting the living resources and environment on which human society depends for sustainable development has become one of the most important issues facing contemporary society. arid and semi-arid areas are vast in size, diverse in ecosystem types, and rich in biodiversity resources; because of their unique geographical location and climatic conditions, some areas of the region have become critical areas for biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, with many of the world's unique species. scientific research on biodiversity and ecosystems in arid and semi-arid areas can make an important contribution to the sustainable use of biodiversity resources and to the maintenance and improvement of global environmental quality and the human living environment.

the journal of arid land is an international peer-reviewed journal co-sponsored by xinjiang institute of ecology and geography, chinese academy of sciences, science press and china society of natural resources.

the journal covers such topics as the dynamics of natural resources (including water, soil and land, organism and climate), the security and sustainable development of natural resources, and the environment and ecology in arid and semi-arid lands, especially in central asia. the coverage extends from interactions among the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and lithosphere, to relationships between these natural processes and human activities. the journal also discusses the patterns of geography with ecology and environment, ecological improvement and environmental protection, and regional responses and feedback mechanisms.

the purpose of this special issue is to promote the most advanced knowledge, to introduce the latest technologies, and to present comprehensive methods and solutions for key scientific problems in biodiversity and ecosystem protection in arid and semi-arid areas.

the topics of articles include but are not limited to the following:

l   taxonomy and system evolution

l   biodiversity conservation and protection

l   ecosystem degradation and ecological security

prof. dr. ewa lupikasza, university of silesia in katowice, poland

prof. dr. ireneusz malik, university of silesia in katowice, poland

dr. malgorzata wistuba, university of silesia in katowice, poland

prof. dr. zhou xiaobing, xinjiang institute of ecology and geography, chinese academy of sciences, china

dr. li wenjun, xinjiang institute of ecology and geography, chinese academy of sciences, china

dr. liu huiliang, xinjiang institute of ecology and geography, chinese academy of sciences, china

l  please carefully read and follow the instructions for authors which you may find online at

l  before submitting your paper, you will need to create a user account and then submit all relevant files online at

l  manuscripts can be submitted during the following time frame:

opening: 20 july 2021

deadline: 30 december 2021