Anti-desert effort wows China Development Forum

A parallel forum themed on sustainable development draws the participation of leaders from China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group, China Huadian Corporation, Elion Resources, Nestle, Evonik and En+. It took place as part of the 2019 China Development Forum held in Beijing, on March 23. [Photo/WeChat account of Ordos Reported]

Extraordinary efforts made by Ordos, located in Inner Mongolia autonomous region, to combat the relentless onslaught of desertification were highlighted and honored during the 2019 China Development Forum which took place at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, on March 23.

The forum brought together more than 150 economists, officials from international organizations and representatives from Fortune Global 500 corporations to discuss issues related to China’s reform and opening-up, global cooperation and ecological management. 

On the afternoon of March 23, a parallel forum themed on sustainable development drew entrepreneurs from China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group, China Huadian Corporation, Elion Resources, Nestle, Evonik and En+ to discuss the anti-desertification initiative. 

During the forum, Wang Wenbiao, chairman of Elion Resources and winner of United Nations’ Champion of the Earth award, delivered a speech.

In his remarks, he recalled the changes that have taken place in the Kubuqi desert over the past 30 years resulting from local anti-desertification efforts. 

“Thirty years ago, the Kubuqi was called the ‘sea of death’ with vegetation coverage of less than 3 percent and only a little more than 100 varieties of animals and plants,” Wang said. 

“Thirty years later, more than 6,000 square kilometers of the Kubuqi desert, which has a total area of 18,600 sq km of sand area, has been afforested, and the number of varieties of plant species in the area has grown from nearly 100 to more than 500,” he said.

“The once-absent swans, grey cranes, foxes and pheasants returned to the desert; the precipitation in the area increased notably, and the number of sand storms plaguing Beijing and Tianjin decreased by 90 percent,” Wang stated.

Attendees of the session were all impressed by the significant changes taking place in Ordos as well as the city’s tremendous and effective sand control efforts, with some of the participating entrepreneurs expressing their desire to go there to see for themselves.

Wang Wenbiao, chairman of Ordos-based Elion Resources Group, delivers a speech outlining the extraordinary changes in the Kubuqi desert resulting from local anti-desertification efforts. [Photo/WeChat account of Ordos Reported]