Characteristics and dynamics of sandy natural forests in sandy forest-steppe ecotone in the northern area of China

The research was carried out on sandy natural forest ecosystems in sandy forest-steppe ecotone in the northern area of China from 1980's. In this paper, we introduced the concept and origin, distribution and actu- ality,types and succession of sandy natural forests in the northern area of China. The conservation value and strategy for sandy natural forests were also discussed. We hope to supply some scientific basis for performing "the Natural Forest Protection Program" reasonably in China.