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Desert Blooms: China's Green Revolution
17 Jun
Summary
- Desert control combines ecological, social, and economic benefits.
- Solar projects control desert while generating renewable energy.
- Inner Mongolia leads ecological restoration with 4.86 million hectares treated.
In China's Inner Mongolia, the Kubuqi Desert is undergoing a remarkable transformation through extensive desertification control measures. At the Engebei Ecological Demonstration Zone, agricultural technicians are testing new plant varieties and sharing techniques, successfully cultivating bananas and papayas amidst sandy terrains. This initiative aims to blend ecological restoration with social and economic advantages for local communities.
Traditional methods of using willow branches to create sand barriers are also ongoing, with native vegetation planted to stabilize dunes. Decades of effort have led to about 80 percent of the Kubuqi Desert, covering 290,000 hectares, now being under control. Modern technology has significantly improved the efficiency of these operations compared to manual labor.
Another key strategy involves large-scale photovoltaic projects. The Dalad Banner Photovoltaic Top Runner Base integrates desertification control with renewable energy generation. Power is produced above solar panels, sand is restored below, and vegetation is planted between them. Completed solar projects have already brought 18,000 hectares under control.
By the end of 2030, these photovoltaic sand-control projects are expected to cover approximately 53,333.33 hectares, generating about 40 billion kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Overall, since 2021, Inner Mongolia has achieved 9.2 million hectares of ecological restoration, including 4.86 million hectares of desertification control.
