Ecological construction holds back desertification

(chinadaily.com.cn)

Updated: 2015-06-25

Inner Mongolia’s ecological construction project has improved over 43 million mu (2.87 million hectares) of desertified land in the past five years, slowing down the ecological deterioration of the region.

The region has prioritized sand control and prevention in its ecological works. In order to improve areas with fragile ecology, the region has taken multiple approaches, including protecting natural forests, control of sand sources and converting degraded farmland into forest land.

To date, the region’s forest networks provide shelter to nearly 80 million mu of farm lands and 150 million mu of grazing land. 260 million mu of sandstorm-stricken land and 150 million mu of eroded land were improved in advance. The amount of silt deposited in the Yellow River was reduced by 110 million tons per year.