Introduction

Northern Shaanxi’s Loess Plateau in central China faces severe erosion after centuries of over-exploitation. This mobility project funded by the Natioanl Research Council of Finland (Academy of Finland) strengthens UEF–NWAFU cooperation to co-design, test, and model mixed-species plantation systems (notably Chinese sea buckthorn and black locust) that co-deliver soil protection, biomass production, and wider ecosystem services. Repeated plot sampling (leaves, fine roots, litter, soil) feeds mixed-effects, allometric, SEM and machine-learning models to reveal how mixtures, siting and silviculture improve establishment, stability, biodiversity and resilience, while enabling sustainable bioenergy options for rural development. The overarching aim is to consolidate long-standing UEF–NWAFU links and translate evidence into locally viable management and teaching activities.

Objectives

Quantify biomass allocation, productivity and erosion mitigation in mixed sea buckthorn–black locust systems through stand/tree-level mixed models, allometry, and structural equation modelling; complement with boosted regression trees to upscale plot evidence using soil–climate–land-use profiles.

Compare alternative silvicultural regimes, mixtures and spatial deployment to identify strategies that jointly enhance soil protection, biomass supply and biodiversity under local constraints.

Integrate calibrated models into simulation workflows that couple stand dynamics with land-use and climate profiles, supporting scenario analysis and management optimisation.

Deepen institutional cooperation via coordinated research visits, co-teaching, and joint manuscripts, reinforcing an existing collaboration since 2012 and supporting early-career researcher training.

Participants

Financing

Funding period: 01 Mar 2024 – 31 Dec 2025.

Total budget / amount applied: €14,000 (travel and mobility).