Desert Plant Research Institute
The Desert Plant Research Institute was set up by Yulin University in 2003 in order to meet the demands created by the development of the local economy and community and to sustain and improve the natural environment of the area. It is the only research organization in Northern Shaanxi that aims to study the plants in Maowusu Desert and find ways to protect and utilize these plants. The Institute has 11 full-time and part-time researchers and has engaged 3 well-known domestic and foreign experts as advisors. It has also built strong ties with China’s Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University and Japan’s Tokyo University. The work it has done includes a comprehensive survey of the natural resources in Maowusu Desert,restoration of vegetation in Maowusu Desert, and the protection and utilization of wild plants in Maowusu Desert.