Desertification of arid and semiarid grazingland ecosystems is a serious problem in North China. Although desertification has historical precedence, the scale and extent of current grazingland desertification is without parallel. The contemporary desertification arises from the improper land use and production practices that are associated with economic, social and political agendas having precedence over ecological stability. Although degradation of grazingland leading to desertification is obvious and acknowledged, development emphasis continues to focus on sedentary agriculture. Academic and research institutions have an understanding of the desertification process on grazinglands, but until practical solutions acceptable to government and the agricultural administration are devised and tested, it is unlikely that the current apathy towards desertification will be surmounted.