【推荐1】The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is facing a number of challenges in ecological preservation. For example, the region faces severe water shortages with the number of lakes dropping from 427 in 1987 to 145 in 2010. In addition to a lack of rainfall, huge water consumption in agricultural and industrial production has worsened the water shortage. Besides water shortage, too much use of fertilizers has damaged the soil and affected the growth of grass, speeding up the expansion of the desert. Efforts must be made to solve these problems.