Combating Desertification in Northern China: Innovative Solutions and Techniques

For years, the northern and northwestern regions of China have faced severe challenges due to human activity and climate change, leading to desertification, sandstorms, and a loss of biodiversity.

However, a dedicated group of scientists and government officials in China are working tirelessly to combat this issue and transform arid land into productive farmland.

This article explores the innovative techniques and technologies being employed to address desertification and restore ecological balance in these regions.

The Gobi Desert: A Harsh Environment

The Gobi Desert is the fifth largest desert in the world, spanning over half a million square miles across northern China and southern Mongolia.

Its name derives from a Mongolian word meaning “dry place,” which accurately reflects its climate, receiving only about seven inches of rainfall annually.

The Gobi is characterized by five distinct ecosystems, each with unique features.

These include the Eastern Gobi Desert steppe, the Alashan Plateau semi-desert, the Gobi Lakes Valley desert steppe, the Zungarian Basin semi-desert, and the Tianshan range.

The elevations within the Gobi’s basins range from approximately 1,600 to 5,000 feet above sea level.

The desert is home to some of the world’s earliest fossilized dinosaur egg discoveries, including those of Velociraptor, Avimimus, and Panoplosaurus.

The Gobi’s arid climate results from its location in the rain shadow of the Himalayan and surrounding mountain ranges, which intercept moisture-laden clouds before they can reach the desert.

Despite being classified as a desert, only about 5 percent of the Gobi’s landscape consists of sand dunes.

The majority features rocky terrain marked by gravel and sparse vegetation.

The temperature extremes in the Gobi are notable, with summer highs reaching up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit and winter lows plummeting to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Gobi is an essential ecosystem that supports a surprising diversity of mammals and birds, particularly in the Mongolian region, where human encroachment has been relatively minimal.

The Expansion of the Desert

The Gobi Desert is known as the world’s fastest-growing desert, expanding by approximately 3,600 square kilometers each year, an area equivalent to the size of Luxembourg or New York City.

This alarming growth is primarily attributed to China’s rapid economic development and the increasing consumption patterns of its middle class.

The rising demand for disposable chopsticks, for example, has led to the consumption of 1.

3 million cubic meters of timber annually, resulting in widespread deforestation.

This deforestation removes the roots that stabilize the soil and draw moisture from the atmosphere, leading to soil erosion and a drier climate.

Additionally, the growing demand for food and resources has prompted many farmers to switch from crop production to livestock rearing, resulting in overgrazing and other associated problems.

This shift not only reduces the land available for agriculture but also exacerbates the frequency and severity of sandstorms that can devastate nearby cities.

Desertification shows little sign of slowing down, with nearly 20 percent of China now classified as desert.

The situation is dire, as drought conditions worsen across northern regions, with estimates suggesting that China has gained 21,000 square miles of desert since 1975.

As the Gobi Desert expands, it merges with other deserts, creating a vast sea of sand that threatens to become uninhabitable.

Villages have been lost, and the encroaching deserts jeopardize farmland and force communities to abandon their homes.

This relentless march of desertification has significant implications for food security and water availability, leading to the displacement of populations and the emergence of climate refugees.

Local Initiatives to Combat Desertification

In response to the growing threat of desertification, local governments and residents living on the desert’s fringes have taken proactive measures to combat the advancing sands.

Tree planting initiatives have been implemented to stabilize the soil and block wind.

For instance, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, surrounded by three major deserts, has been fighting desertification for over six decades.

As of 2010, approximately 57 percent of its territory, or 2.

97 million hectares, had been affected by desertification.

The impact of desertification in China is profound, affecting both the environment and the people.

It has led to shifts in food production zones, crop failures, livestock deaths, and drying water sources.

Moreover, the consequences extend beyond agriculture and water resources, hindering progress toward sustainable development and displacing entire communities.

Many displaced individuals are forced to seek refuge in other countries, potentially leading to resource-driven conflicts.

To combat desertification effectively, the Chinese government has partnered with the World Bank to finance an 80 million dollar project aimed at controlling desertification, rehabilitating natural vegetation, and implementing environmental protection measures.

One notable initiative is taking place in Lingwu County, located on the edge of the Maowusu Desert.

Here, a biotan forest farm spans 75,000 hectares, but the region faces an annual rainfall of only 160 millimeters and an evaporation rate exceeding 2,000 millimeters.

Controlling sand dunes and preventing floods has been a constant battle.

Thanks to project funding, the farm has adopted a One Plus Four approach to restoring vegetation, achieving an impressive 70 percent survival rate for newly planted materials and restoring vegetation cover to 40 percent.

This method effectively stabilizes the shifting sand dunes and has brought 6,667 hectares of desert under control.

Innovative Techniques in Desert Rehabilitation

One of the key techniques employed in combating desertification is the straw checkerboard method.

This innovative approach involves creating a grid-like structure using straw to hold the sand in place.

Additionally, planting is strategically timed during the spring and autumn months, with bonus container seeding, spot seeding, and broadcast seeding conducted during rainy seasons to maximize the chances of successful growth.

In Yanchi County, areas that were once sandy are now lush with trees, grass, and flowering shrubs.

The extensive use of straw checkerboards and grazing bands has increased forest cover by 2 percent and reduced the number of dusty days per year by an average of 11.

Multi-year pasture grasses are reappearing, transforming the area into a haven for Tan sheep, which produce high-quality wool and tender mutton.

Farmers have received subsidies for sheep sheds and have benefited from improved infrastructure, while information campaigns have educated them on the importance of keeping livestock off degraded land.

In Shanghui, a city bordering the Tengger Desert, efforts to control sand encroachment date back to the 1950s when the Baotou-Lanzhou railway was built nearby.

With project support, more than 21,333 hectares of desert have been incorporated into a network of straw checkerboards, and 3,033 hectares of grass and shrubs have been planted.

This extensive network resembles a colossal net covering vast stretches of sand, effectively stabilizing the dunes and creating barriers for critical infrastructure, including railways and highways.

The labor-intensive process of creating straw checkerboards has been streamlined through the invention of portable tools, which have increased the survival rate of planted materials by 20 percent while halving labor costs.

The city has also experienced a booming tourist industry, attracting visitors eager to witness the transformation of the desert landscape.

The Green Great Wall of China

One of the most ambitious initiatives to combat desertification in China is the Three North Shelter Belt Program, commonly referred to as the Green Great Wall of China.

Launched in 1978, this national tree-planting project aims to rehabilitate degraded land and prevent desert encroachment into northern China’s fertile grasslands and farmlands.

The project seeks to plant millions of trees along a 2,800-mile (4,506-kilometer) border to combat desertification and absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

The Green Great Wall is projected to cost up to eight billion dollars, with a comprehensive oversight system in place for tracking progress.

The initiative aims to increase forest cover in the affected zones from 5 percent to 13.

5 percent, with a long-term goal of planting approximately 88 million acres of forest by 2050.

The trees planted as part of this initiative act as a barrier against desertification and help to mitigate soil erosion.

To scale up efforts against desertification, the Chinese government has developed a National Action Program that includes expanding protected areas and restoring overgrazed and marginal farmlands to their natural state.

The government has also created strong incentives to encourage private sector organizations to invest in restoring degraded areas through public-private partnerships.

International Collaboration and Lessons Learned

China’s efforts to combat desertification have garnered significant attention, and other countries are looking to its experience for guidance.

The Great Wall of Africa, a 7,000-kilometer barrier designed to hold back the Sahara and Sahel deserts, is one such initiative.

Despite facing challenges with funding and oversight, this project has created over 350,000 new jobs and restored 18 million hectares of land in participating countries.

Ethiopia has emerged as a leader in reforestation efforts, planting 5.

5 billion seedlings as part of its commitment to restoring degraded lands.

Other nations, such as Burkina Faso and Chad, have also made progress, with millions of plants and seedlings being cultivated to combat desertification.

Jordan is implementing a unique project funded under NATO’s Science for Peace and Security Program to monitor soil, water, vegetation, and climate changes using remote sensing tools and geographic information systems.

Meanwhile, Australia has made indigenous people guardians of over 40 percent of its natural reserves through Indigenous Protected Areas, allowing local communities to manage land for biodiversity conservation.

Ethiopia’s government aims to restore 22 million hectares of drylands by 2030 in partnership with the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization and the Great Green Wall Initiative.

These efforts serve as a cautionary tale for other nations at risk of land degradation, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures to achieve a sustainable and resilient future.

The Role of Innovative Technologies

One of the most promising breakthroughs in combating desertification is the development of Nano clay.

This innovative solution addresses the global challenge of desertification by improving soil conditions without the labor-intensive and harmful processes associated with traditional clay applications.

Nano clay, developed by Desert Control, is sprayed onto the soil’s surface in a water-based solution.

The nano-sized particles penetrate the soil, enhancing water retention and nutrient absorption.

One application of Nano clay can significantly improve water retention by 65 percent and reduce irrigation needs by up to 47 percent.

This technology is easy to implement, requiring virtually no training or specialized equipment.

Desert Control aims to deliver Nano clay solutions globally, targeting a cost-effective price point to maximize accessibility.

In collaboration with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Desert Control is also involved in the ambitious Great Green Wall project in North Africa.

By combining innovative technologies like Nano clay with traditional restoration methods, countries can work towards combating desertification more effectively.

Conclusion

Desertification poses a significant threat to ecosystems, agriculture, and communities worldwide.

China’s innovative approaches to combating this issue, including tree planting initiatives, sustainable land management practices, and advanced technologies, offer valuable lessons for other nations facing similar challenges.

By prioritizing environmental protection and restoring degraded lands, countries can work together to create a more sustainable future.

As the world grapples with the impacts of climate change and human activity on natural resources, it is crucial to learn from successful initiatives and implement proactive measures to combat desertification.

The experiences of China and other nations demonstrate that through collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to sustainability, it is possible to turn the tide against desertification and protect the planet for future generations.