Environmental Changes in Central and East Asian Drylands and their Effects on Major River-Lake Systems

Even though the drylands of Central and Eastern Asia are among the most continental regions of the world, they are also home to some of the largest rivers and lakes in the world. Because of a low population density, many of these water bodies have remained in relatively pristine condition until the mid-20th century, when urbanization, intensive agriculture and mining activities began to leave massive footprints on the regional environment. In more recent decades, water bodies in the region have been massively modified by both water withdrawals and pollutant influxes. At the example of the Lake Baikal, Aral Sea, and Tarim River basins, this paper provides an overview of the impacts of human activities on the large rivers and receiving (terminal) lakes in Central and Eastern Asian drylands. Finally, recent measures to at least partially restore their aquatic ecosystems are analyzed.