More than four decades of efforts against desertification in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwest China have helped develop crucial experience. The region also plans to plant 10,000 hectares of forest by the end of 2022 by carefully considering trees for the varying land conditions.

Ningxia, surrounded by advancing deserts on three sides, has been notoriously famous for its poverty, especially in its southern part. The region lacks water resources as the annual rainfall in 80 percent of the area is less than 300 mm and also faces extreme weather events. If no actions are taken, the region faces the threat of being engulfed by sand as no defense can stop the advancing desert and repetitive strong sandstorms.

Although Ningxia is small in size, it has a variety of terrains: mountains, basins, deserts, grasslands. Also, growing different trees based on different habitats is critical to maintaining the forests' quality and sustainability.

In Shapotou District, Zhongwei City, wild shrubs are grown instead of forests because of the extremely low groundwater. Shrubs help lower the winds speed, preventing the transportation of sands to adjoining areas. At the same time, the algal organisms living on the shrubs gradually form biological soil crusts to hold the sand firmly.

"For example, in counties and regions with its annual precipitation less than 400 mm, more shrubs should be planted as they can well adapt the dry land," said Xu Zhong, chief engineer of Forestry and Grassland Bureau of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, adding "meanwhile great efforts should also be given to the maintenance of the existing grassland, only then can we achieve a sustainable development and truly show the respect to nature by following the law of nature."

By the end of 2020, Ningxia has grown 510,000 hectares of forest, and Forest coverage increased from 8.4 percent in 2000 to 15.8 percent. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period (2021-2025), Ningxia plans to create 96,000 hectares of forest and restore over 66,000 hectares of grassland.

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