More than 400 hectares of Taklimakan Desert to be Covered with Red Willows

On 28 November 2024, a major milestone was reached in the southern Taklimakan Desert in Yutian County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The green belt on the southern edge of the desert was completed with the last rose seedling planted.

However, efforts to combat desertification along the edge of the desert have not stopped. Work continues to extend and reinforce the green belt. In Yutian County, bulldozing is levelling dunes, filling large pits and flattening more than 530 hectares of sand.

Saxaul and salt cedar, both common local plants, are key to stabilising the sand. At a nursery in Lop County, workers store bundles of red willow branches in underground cellars and cover them with soil to protect them over the winter.

In the spring, more than 400 hectares of desert will be covered with these willows. Meanwhile, workers are collecting saxaul seeds from a sand-covered area in a silverberry garden in Yutian.

Many photovoltaic projects are underway in the Taklimakan Desert, in addition to biological sand control preparations. Workers are busy installing solar panels.

By spring, sand stabilising plants such as medick and Chinese fountain grass will be planted under the panels.

This integrated project, combining photovoltaics and biological sand control, will become a new model for Xinjiang, demonstrating how environmental management and economic development can go hand in hand. 

Edited by: YJ
Reviewed By: Maggie
Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776

 

Contribution

Do you know? We rely on crowd-funding and donations. You have the opportunity to help an international movement to advance biodiversity conservation. Donate TODAY to power up the movement to make it a better world for all life.

Donation(501C3)Paypal: intl@wbag.org

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=2EYYJJZ8CGPLE