Land degradation

an important sustainable development issue

is defined as this: the diminution or destruc tion of the biological or economic potential caused by one or a combination of processes actiong on the land. The processes include water erosion

wind erosion

and longterm reduction in the amount of natural regetation. There is severe water erosion in the granite weathering crust area in southern China. As a result of water ero sion，desertlike landscape appears in the place such as badlands

deterioration of soil properties and vegetation degradation. For example

2700 of total area in Wuhua county

Guangdong Province

has suffered from badlands. In consideration of the badlands that are mainly landscape in the process of degradation，in which vegetation cover age

density of gully and weathering layer condition as well as erosion type can be regards as the indicator to assess land degradation. Finally

this paper discusses the negative effects of land degradation on social and environment.They include destruction of land resource

silation of reservoirs and reducement of plant growth etc.