Log in / Sign up

Soil and Water Conservation and Desertification Control

Universities
2
Programs
3
Major category
Agronomy

Specialization introduction

Major introduction

Study the protection of water and soil resources and desertification control to make land healthier and the environment more sustainable. It is a key discipline connecting agriculture and ecology.

Program overview

This major focuses on preventing soil erosion, restoring degraded land, and controlling desertification. Core courses include principles of soil erosion, desertification control techniques, soil and water conservation planning, ecological restoration engineering, remote sensing and GIS applications, and more. You will learn how to use engineering measures (such as terraces and retaining walls) and biological measures (such as planting drought-resistant plants) to protect land. China has a wealth of practical cases in the Loess Plateau and northwestern desert areas, and many universities (such as Beijing Forestry University and Northwest A&F University) have field research stations where you can directly participate in real projects. This major is suitable for students who enjoy outdoor work, are passionate about the ecological environment, and are willing to solve problems hands-on.

Major prospects

全球气候变化让土地退化问题越来越受关注，中国在“一带一路”沿线国家也有不少合作项目。这个领域的技术需求很稳定，因为土地是农业和城市发展的基础。国际学生可以关注中国在干旱区治理的经验，比如“库布其模式”，这些技术在很多发展中国家都有应用前景。另外，碳汇、生态补偿等新概念也跟水土保持相关，未来可能有更多跨界机会。

Career prospects

毕业后可以去政府部门（比如水利局、自然资源局）、设计院、环保公司、科研院所，或者国际组织（如联合国粮农组织、世界银行）。常见岗位有水土保持方案编制、荒漠化监测、生态修复工程师、环境影响评价师等。在中国，硕士毕业生起薪大约每月8000-15000元人民币，有经验后可达2万以上。如果回国或去其他国家，可以从事类似工作，或者做技术顾问。这个专业比较小众，竞争压力相对小，但需要你愿意去野外工作。

Subordinate programs