Ecological benefits assessment of river flow diversion for Ejina oasis in Heihe River basin using remote sensing

A trans-provincial river flow diversion project has been implemented in the Heihe River basin since 2000 to stop the further deterioration of its downstream Ejina natural oasis. An emergent three-year water saving project were was also carried out during 2001 to 2003 as to prevent the downstream Ejina oasis from further withering. In this paper, desertification degree and net primary productivity (NPP) of the oasis based on remote sensing was used to assess the vegetation response of this natural oasis to the river flow diversion. Desertification was degraded with no significant expansion and natural oasis ecosystem was restored by increasing productivity. Those were mainly attributed to trans-province water reallocation project in the Heihe River basin.