Imagine standing at the edge of a vast desert, watching as the golden dunes stretch endlessly before you 🌵. That's Shapotou, where the mighty Tengger Desert meets the life-giving waters of the Yellow River in northwest China's Zhongwei City.
Not too long ago, the sands were shifting relentlessly, threatening to swallow up farmland and disrupt the lives of locals. The desert was advancing, and it seemed unstoppable. But guess what? The people of Shapotou said, \"Not on our watch!\" 💪
Armed with innovative techniques like the \"straw checkerboard barrier\" and sand-fixing systems, they've been waging a battle against desertification. And spoiler alert: They're winning! 🎉
Over several decades, Zhongwei has reclaimed an incredible 1.5 million mu (about 100,000 hectares) of desert land through afforestation. That's out of a total of 1.68 million mu of desert! 🌳🌲 Their efforts have boosted vegetation coverage from less than 1% to a whopping 42% today. The Tengger Desert has been pushed back by 25 kilometers. Talk about a comeback story! 🙌
This green miracle isn't just about transforming landscapes; it's about communities coming together to protect their home, preserving their way of life, and showing us all how human determination can make a real difference. 🌏❤️
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
