Ordos man aids in sand control in Kubuqi Desert

Buhe, a sand control worker, has successfully planted 80,000 mu (5,333.33 hectares) of trees in the Kubuqi Desert over the past 19 years.

The Kubuqi Desert, China's seventh-largest desert, covers an area of approximately 18,600 square km and is located in Inner Mongolia. The desert suffers from harsh environmental conditions and poor soil quality, making it extremely difficult for plants to thrive.

Buhe's efforts to fight desertification began when he returned to his hometown Yinkentala in Ordos in 2004. He chose to lease a 100,000-mu plot of the desert.

Buhe invested a total of 700 million yuan ($99.86 million) in Yinkentala over the past 19 years. In addition to afforestation, he has also established a vertical sand barrier with sand willow and artificial planting.

As a result, the desertification area has shrunk, the environment has improved, and many tourists have come to visit the area.

Buhe said that one of the biggest challenges of planting trees in the desert was the shortage of water resources. Although each plant has a strong root system and stubborn vitality, it's hard to ensure a tree survives.

During the growth period, the trees require sufficient maintenance, irrigation, and supervision. Buhe believes desert planting is similar to raising a child – it requires a great deal of effort and care.

Thanks to Buhe's contributions to improving the environment, his project has attracted much acknowledgment from international visitors. "In September 2017, nearly 200 representatives of contracting parties from different countries came to visit me here," he said.

Now, his efforts have transformed the previously sandy and arid land into a green oasis. His daughter Li Fang, who studied in Hong Kong, has followed in his footsteps and now runs the vacation spot.

The success of Buhe's project has become a national model for managing desertification through the production and growth of the ecological industry.