The State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology of BNU focuses on studying the semi-arid grassland and the transitional zone between the pastoral and agricultural areas in northern China and the coastal areas. It deems sustainable ecosystem management and restoration of degraded ecosystems as the overall target while it strives to advance resource ecology research and dynamic modeling of ecosystems at multiple scales. The Laboratory conducts experiments and studies by integrating multiple disciplines to explore the geographical processes and the rational use of renewable natural resources. To date, it has established four major research themes including earth surface processes, resource ecology, earth surface system modeling and simulation, and sustainable regional development modeling. The goal is to provide technical support for the prevention and control of land degradation and restoration of degraded ecosystems in ecologically fragile regions. The objective also is to build the Laboratory into a research center and education base that specializes in earth surface processes and resource ecology, with important international influence and status. The Laboratory is headed by Professor Peijun Shi. The Director of the Academic Committee is Academician Zhisheng An.