Desert to green: Inner Mongolia sandy land's governance miracle

In recent years, Kezuohou Banner in Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, has been making great efforts to promote the comprehensive management of Horqin Sandy Land. With a concentrated management area of 2 million mu(about 133 thousand hectares), the sandy land has been rejuvenated with greenery. The forest stock volume has been increasing year by year, and the under-forest industry has been driven to develop, exploring a new path that not only adds greenery to the sandy land but also increases the income of the masses.

The great changes in landforms before and after governance

The Horqin Sandy Land, located in the southwestern part of the Songliao Plain, is the largest sandy land among the four major sandy lands in China. In the past, due to overgrazing, deforestation and drought, the ecological environment here was extremely fragile, with sand dunes expanding continuously and the living environment of local people being seriously threatened.

However, with the implementation of the "Two Million Mu" Comprehensive Management Project of Horqin Sandy Land, the landforms here have undergone earth-shaking changes. Through a series of measures such as afforestation, grass planting and sand fixation, the once barren sandy land has gradually been covered by green vegetation. The towering sand dunes have been fixed, and the once-frequent sandstorms have been effectively curbed.

The "Three-North" program and regional ecological security

The "Three-North" shelterbelt forest program, a major ecological project in China, plays a crucial role in regional ecological security. Horqin Sandy Land, as one of the key areas of the "Three-North" program, has benefited a lot from it.

The "Three-North" program not only effectively curbs the expansion of the sandy land but also improves the overall ecological environment of the region. By building a large number of shelter forests, the wind speed in the area has been reduced, the soil erosion has been alleviated and the air quality has been significantly improved. In addition, the improvement of the ecological environment has also promoted the recovery and development of local biodiversity, providing a better living environment for various wild animals and plants.

The sustainable governance mechanism

In the process of managing Horqin Sandy Land, a series of sustainable governance mechanisms have been established.

On the one hand, scientific and technological innovation has become an important driving force for governance. For example, the "deep planting and shallow burying" planting method explored by the local forestry work team has effectively improved the survival rate of afforestation. By digging deep pits, filling soil in batches and accurately watering, the survival rate of afforestation has been increased from 50 percent in the past to over 90 percent, saving more than 50 percent of water resources.

On the other hand, the local government has also established a long-term management and protection mechanism. Through strengthening law enforcement supervision, strictly prohibiting illegal grazing and deforestation, and implementing forest and grassland compensation policies, the enthusiasm of the masses for ecological protection has been mobilized, ensuring the long-term effectiveness of the governance results.

The reference significance for global desertification governance

The "Two Million Mu" project in Horqin Sandy Land has accumulated valuable experience for global desertification governance.

The comprehensive management model adopted here, which combines afforestation, grass planting, sand fixation and industrial development, provides a practical reference for other desertification areas. By integrating ecological restoration with economic development, not only has the ecological environment been improved, but the income of local people has also been increased, achieving a win-win situation of ecological and economic benefits.

The application of scientific and technological innovation in the governance process also provides a new idea for global desertification governance. Through the development and application of new technologies such as water-saving irrigation and drought-resistant plant varieties, the efficiency and effect of desertification governance can be effectively improved.

In conclusion, the "Two Million Mu" Comprehensive Management Project of Horqin Sandy Land is a successful example of China's ecological civilization construction. It not only demonstrates China's determination and ability to improve the ecological environment but also provides valuable experience and inspiration for global desertification governance.