China, Arab nations join to combat desertification

Sandcontrol workers help prepare barriers that will house sand-resistant plants in Gansu province. [Photo by Yang Yongwei/For China Daily]

China and Arab nations jointly established an international research center focused on drought, desertification and land degradation during the opening ceremony of the Kubuqi International Desert Forum held in Ordos, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Saturday.

Desertification, which largely contributes to sandstorms, is a global issue that threatens about 67 percent of the world's countries and regions. International collaboration is urgently needed to solve the problem, experts at the forum said.

At the event, China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the Secretariat of the League of Arab States signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the center. The two sides launched the first batch of collaboration projects, including a plan to plant 10 billion trees across Saudi Arabia and an eco-solar desert control engineering project.

The signing of the agreement fulfilled a commitment between China and the Middle Eastern countries made in December, when China proposed building the center at the First China-Arab States Summit held in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia.

Wan Gang, chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology, said at the forum that more global consensus is needed on preventing and controlling desertification.

Desertification affects about 33 percent of the Earth's land area and poses severe challenges to the survival and development of 20 percent of the world's population, Wan said.

"It is urgent to control desertification through joint efforts by countries and regions, and it has been proved that deserts are not forbidden areas for life. They can be managed and transformed into valuable resources for sustainable human development," he said.

China has employed technological methods and has taken green development approaches to combat desertification, he added.

The country is utilizing solar power in deserts not only to generate renewable energy, but also to create opportunities for modern agricultural production by establishing green areas.

Planting shrubs under photovoltaic panels protects the land from wind and sand erosion. The panels help protect plants from strong wind and water evaporation.

"International cooperation plays a crucial role in promoting the benefits generated by deserts for humanity. China has always been learning from other countries' experiences while sharing technologies with countries that are part of the Belt and Road Initiative," he said.

Li Hongzhong, a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, told the forum that China is committed to achieving high-quality development in desertification control and prevention.

China will actively participate in global desertification control, enhance cooperation with neighboring countries and support desertification control efforts in BRI countries, he said.

By 2030, China will have achieved greening in 67 percent of its deserts that are able to be treated, with the aim of achieving full greening of these areas by 2050, he said.

In the past decade, China has achieved desertification control of roughly 20.33 million hectares, and has accomplished greening in 53 percent of its treatable desert land, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Li said that China will focus on key areas such as the Yellow River and eradicate desertification in the Horqin and Hunshandake deserts while adopting tailored approaches to develop green industries and combining photovoltaic technology with desertification control efforts.

Over the past decade, China has completed over 20 million hectares of desertification control and prevention and improved over 40 million hectares of grassland, Li added.