**3.2 Vegetation restoration in desert areas**

The desert area is mainly distributed in the section from Golmud to Kunlun Mountain. The average soil moisture content in this section is extremely low, less than 4%. Vegetation coverage is very low, except for a few areas where vegetation coverage is higher, often less than 30%. The species richness is also very low. Land desertification is serious. Super xerophytic shrubs and semi-shrubs grow sporadically in some areas. This is the result of an extremely difficult habitat that has long been adapted to dry climates and severe water shortages. The droughttolerant species of Chenopodiaceae, Tamaricaceae, Zygophyllaceae, and other drought-tolerant plants form the arid and semi-arid desert vegetation landscape. For vegetation restoration in this area, shrubs such as *Sympegma regelii*, *Calligonum mongolicum*, *Salsola abrotanoides*, *Nitraria tangutorum*, *Ceratoides latens*, *Ephedra przewalskii,* and *Oxytropis aciphylla* can be selected. Among them, *S. regelii* is suitable for mild saline-alkaline deserts, *C. mongolicum* is suitable for gravel deserts, *S. abrotanoides* is suitable for gravel deserts, and *C. latens* is suitable for Gobi and desert areas.
