When Yin Yuzhen arrived in the Maowusu Desert over 40 years ago, she found herself in a barren and desolate desert covered in shifting dunes. Her house was half-buried and sandstorms could seal the door shut overnight, leaving every corner of the house covered in sand.

However, she did not yield to the stark environment and instead began a battle against the desert. Rising early in the morning each day, Yin planted trees despite heat, drought and sandstorms that would overturn her effort. 40 years later, her relentless effort has turned 28,000 hectares of desert into an oasis, breathing life into a once arid land.

Yin's achievement would not have been possible without the support of an American friend. Ronald Sakolsky, who was teaching English at a high school in China at the time.

Learning Yin's story on TV and moved by her efforts, Sakolsky reached out to organizations in the US and eventually raised $5,000 for Yin, a large amount of money that helped Yin purchase saplings to tackle the tough environment.

Today, that donation has grown into more than 50,000 trees, spreading across the once-barren desert and transforming it into a thriving woodland.

As June 17 marks the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, Yin's story and her friendship with Sakolsky serve as a reminder that the battle against desertification is a global problem that requires collective action.

China's solution to hold back desertification

In China, there are many people like Yin fighting back against the desert and nature.

According to data published by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, since launching the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program in 1978, China's largest ecological restoration initiative, forest coverage has increased from 5.05% to 13.84% in northwestern, northern and northeastern area of the country.

In the past 48 years, China has preserved 480 million mu (around 32 million hectares) of forests, rehabilitated 1.28 billion mu of degraded grasslands, and brought 670 million mu of soil erosion under control – figures reflecting the massive scale and achievements of the campaign.

The project plays a crucial role in halting the process of creeping desert, transforming the lives of the local people for the better, and providing China's own solution to this global challenge.

These remarkable accomplishments were made possible by innovative measures that harnessed the power of technology.

Solar panels used for generating electricity have been widely installed in arid regions. The elevated panels slow evaporation and help to support the growth of grasses and crops by casting shade above them.

The Kubuqi Desert, devoid of rain and rich in sunny weather, was once called the "sea of death" for its severe conditions. Today, the installation of solar panels has transformed the area into a solar farm that both generates clean energy and prevents further degradation.

"Chinese Rubik's Cube," is another dune stabilization technique that represents the Chinese people's wisdom in tackling land erosion.

In northwestern China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, people have laid out straw in a checkerboard pattern on the desert surface to establish a fortified ground for vegetation to take root. This technique is now widely adopted both across China and internationally to increase soil surface roughness, effectively reducing wind erosion in sandy areas.

Led by the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets", China has already become the fastest greening country in the world, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) alone, China added 185 million mu of new forests.

China's groundbreaking efforts in combating desertification were recognized by the international community.

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Secretariat has twice honored China for its "outstanding contribution to combating desertification," commending its significant role in global efforts to control desertification.

China has also shared its desertification control technology and experience with the world, establishing multiple desertification control pilot and demonstration zones in countries including Mauritania and Nigeria.

In pilot areas in Mauritania, the vegetation coverage rate has increased from 3% to 22%, while livestock mortality in Nigeria has fallen by 35%. More than 2,000 herders have also increased their incomes through ecological restoration projects, according to reports by People's Daily.

By 2030, China aims to treat 186 million mu of desertified land while developing "Green Desert" industry, according to an action plan published by China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration.