Tree-planting stops desert branching out

Editor's note: As protection of the planet's flora, fauna and resources becomes increasingly important, China Daily is publishing a series of stories to illustrate the country's commitment to safeguarding the natural world.

Hundreds of people in Northwest China introduce saplings every year to help retard the expansion of the Kubuqi

Every year from March to May, hundreds of workers from Gansu province and the Ningxia Hui autonomous region in Northwest China arrive at the Kubuqi Desert in Ordos, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, for the annual tree-planting season. The workers toil in the desert planting saplings as part of efforts to control the spread of the sand.

For nearly two months, they live in temporary accommodations, such as tents or cabins, deep within the desert. In order to be closer to the planting areas, the lodgings are often situated far from towns, requiring supplies to be brought in from nearby settlements.

Usually operating in pairs, the workers share the task of digging tree holes, planting the saplings and transporting the materials.

Using large handheld seed drills that weigh more than 10 kilograms, the workers can dig more than 1,000 holes a day. Trekking through the sandy terrain, they carry bundles of saplings and can cover more than 10 kilometers every day.