Across China: China’s Desert Control Experience Shared with Arab States

In the harsh environments on the periphery of the Badain Jaran and Tengger deserts, remarkable efforts are underway to tame shifting sands. Nisreen Saed Al-Qaddi, an assistant professor with the Palestinian Farmers Union, recently observed the effective implementation of innovative strategies, including the use of sand barriers and wind observation towers. These measures stand out as essential tools in the ongoing battle against environmental degradation.

Al-Qaddi participated in a specialized training program in Gansu Province, situated in northwest China, which focused on advanced techniques in sandstorm prevention, oasis preservation, and ecological renewal. This collaborative initiative featured participation from over 20 international experts and highlighted China’s progressive practices in ecological management.

Gansu Province, encompassing over 12 million hectares of sandy terrain, has embraced unique methodologies to reclaim and rehabilitate barren landscapes. Recent data from national desertification assessments reveal significant progress, with a reduction of 2,627 square kilometers of desertified and 1,045 square kilometers of sandy land since 2015, demonstrating the region’s successful interventions.

The extensive 21-day workshop hosted by researchers from the Gansu Desert Control Research Institute provided insights into various desertification countermeasures. Areas of focus included the reestablishment of vegetation in arid zones, alpine grassland conservation techniques, and the introduction of modern biotechnological solutions for ecological protection.

Participants had the opportunity to visit prominent desertification control initiatives, such as sand-related industrial bases and experimental stations dispersed throughout the region. In Minqin County, for example, they witnessed how innovative greening techniques, including drip irrigation and sand barriers, have substantially boosted local forest coverage from 11.52 percent in 2010 to more than 18 percent today.

The workshop drew participants predominantly from Arab nations grappling with severe desertification and drought conditions. Among them was Mohamed A.E. AbdelRahman, a researcher specializing in soil science at Egypt’s National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences. He aimed to leverage the insights gained from this program to address the pervasive challenges posed by desert landscapes in his home country.

“We are confronting vast expanses of shifting dunes impeding economic development, particularly in agriculture. Egypt’s iconic landmarks also endure the adverse effects of wind and sand,” shared AbdelRahman. He emphasized the strategic value of assimilating China’s afforestation and desertification management technologies to combat desert conditions in Egypt.

China embarked on its desertification combat initiatives in the 1950s and has since managed to halt the degradation of grasslands and shrublands. Today, its pioneering experiences and strategies are inspiring other nations confronting analogous adversities.

AbdelRahman Al-Thumayri, a senior specialist with the Saudi Irrigation Organization, remarked on Saudi Arabia’s collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization on a sand barrier initiative. “We have conducted a series of mechanical sand barrier evaluations, drawing on techniques from China, to determine their success in our environment,” he explained.

Ji Yongfu, the director of the Gansu Desert Control Research Institute, underscored the importance of intensifying international exchange and cooperation in addressing the global desertification challenge. According to Yongfu, concerted efforts are critical to ensuring a sustainable ecological legacy for future generations.

Since its inception in 1993, the Gansu Desert Control Research Institute has dedicated itself to delivering comprehensive training on desertification prevention and management. This initiative has empowered over 1,000 officials and scholars from approximately 80 countries, fostering global collaboration and knowledge dissemination in the fight against desertification.

In alignment with this vision, Al-Thumayri advocated for the promotion of ecological stewardship. “We must instill the values of environmental governance to guarantee that future generations inherit a vibrant and thriving ecosystem cultivated through our unified efforts,” he emphasized.