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Gen Z Battles Gobi Desert Sands
27 May
Summary
- Young Chinese volunteers are planting trees in the Gobi Desert.
- Over 100,000 volunteers restored 1,000 hectares in three years.
- Minqin county faces desertification with 88.18 percent coverage.
As spring arrives, Northwest China's Gobi Desert becomes an unexpected hub for young volunteers. Determined to reclaim land from encroaching sands, thousands of Chinese Gen-Z individuals are dedicating their time from March to May to tree planting and sand control.
In the last three years, over 100,000 volunteers have participated, successfully restoring approximately 1,000 hectares of desertified land. This year, more than 40,000 volunteers have journeyed to Minqin county in Gansu province, an area bordered by China's third and fourth-largest deserts.
Minqin has long been a critical battleground against desertification. Generations have worked to stabilize dunes using straw checkerboards and drought-resistant shrubs. Despite these historical efforts, a significant portion of the county, 88.18 percent, remains desertified.
New generations, like 28-year-old Zhong Lin who shares his tree-planting experiences online, are now joining the cause. Their involvement marks a continuation of the long-standing commitment to combat the desert's relentless advance.
