“Southern Xinjiang initiates large-scale afforestation and desertification control in the autumn of 2023”
In a significant effort to combat desertification, the Hotan area in Southern Xinjiang has initiated large-scale afforestation activities in the autumn of 2023. The initiative aims to control desertification and promote ecological restoration in the region. The scene of voluntary tree planting in the Hotan Modern Agricultural Industrial Park in the autumn of 2023 depicts employees actively participating in the afforestation drive. Additionally, the Qiemo County Desert Control Base has been involved in the harvesting of Cistanche deserticola, while Aksu National Wetland Park showcases the progress made in ecological restoration efforts. These activities are integral to the region’s larger efforts to combat desertification and promote sustainable development.
Auspicious snowfall in the Taklimakan Desert has provided a glimmer of hope for the region. The heavy snowfall in the desert is expected to provide essential moisture for plant life, potentially leading to a bumper harvest in the forthcoming spring. The ongoing efforts are part of the “Hexi Corridor-Taklimakan Desert Edge Blocking War” to strengthen the comprehensive prevention and control of desertification and fortify key ecological projects. The successful implementation of these measures will significantly contribute to enhancing ecological security in the region.
The article also highlights the comprehensive wave of autumn afforestation and desertification control that has been launched in the Hotan area. The various counties and cities have completed substantial afforestation activities, including new afforestation, replanting, and forest restoration. The initiative has led to the visible growth of trees that are crucial in mitigating the impact of sand and wind in the Aisiman Regional Ecological Restoration and Desertification Control Project. The ecological restoration project includes the completion of an area of 240,000 acres, comprising artificial afforestation, afforestation in sandy areas, wetland restoration, and photovoltaic sand control.
Furthermore, the article emphasizes the integration of sand industry and traditional Chinese medicine in desertification control efforts. Various states in Southern Xinjiang are actively promoting the planting of Cistanche deserticola and other Chinese medicinal materials. This strategic approach aims to expand the planting area of shrubs suitable for inoculation with medicinal materials and foster job creation and economic development in the region. Additionally, the region is focusing on implementing local policies to empower a green future and is laying out key management projects to prevent the expansion of the desert and improve the overall ecological environment.
The symposium held with the National Forestry and Grassland Administration reaffirms the commitment to solidifying the construction of the “Three North” project in Xinjiang. The measures identified include disaster prevention, development of forest, grass, and desertification control industries, and the promotion of sustainable development.
The comprehensive efforts to combat desertification and promote ecological restoration in Southern Xinjiang underscore the region’s dedication to achieving sustainable and harmonious development for the environment and its inhabitants.