Feature: Looking for the Inspiration of Sand Control in the "the Belt and Road" Green Cooperation Lion | Sand Control | Inspiration

Xinhua News Agency, Urumqi, June 20, special report: Seeking inspiration for desertification control in the "the Belt and Road" green cooperation

Xinhua News Agency reporter Ge Chen, Zhang Xiaolong, Guo Yuqi

The Taklamakan Desert has witnessed the exchange of Eastern and Western civilizations on the ancient Silk Road; Today, in the "the Belt and Road" green cooperation, the desertification control experience here has attracted people from Africa and some Asian countries to exchange and learn here and look for inspiration for desertification control.

Secrets in the Roots of Trees

Sweat beads slid off Osman Delame's face, leaving a mark on the sand. Under the scorching sun of the Taklamakan Desert, the shirt of this Senegalese desertification control expert was already soaked and tightly attached to his body.

Without taking a break, Drame packed the scorching yellow sand into a white cylindrical bag and then stacked each bag into a neat square. These seemingly inconspicuous sandbags actually contain a world leading sand control technology - bio based biodegradable fiber sand barriers. They can significantly reduce near surface wind speed, effectively promote vegetation restoration, and are green and pollution-free due to their biodegradability. They can also use cassava, a common ingredient in Africa, as a raw material.

"Is this how it is done?" After more than an hour, Delame refused to leave and pulled Chinese researchers to demonstrate the method of laying sand barriers again. "I am a technician and I must understand the advanced technology used by my Chinese counterparts."

In June, Xinjiang had a beautiful scenery, but Delame and other colleagues who came from Africa, Central Asia, and other places to participate in Sino foreign desertification control training courses didn't care about enjoying the scenery. As soon as they arrived in China, they plunged into the scorching depths of the desert.

Come to the Cele Desert Research Station of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and walk along the stairs into a shady tunnel. The walls on both sides are actually transparent glass, and the roots of underground plants are clearly visible. In this water induction test field, researchers can observe how the roots of various plants adapt to different groundwater levels and geological environments.

"This method of observing plant growth is amazing, it is very helpful for us to select suitable plants to repair saline alkali land." Drame held onto the glass wall and watched intently.

Diop Suleiman, Director of Geographic Information Systems and Database at the Secretariat of the Pan African "Green Great Wall" organization, said, "China has made tremendous efforts to prevent and control desertification. Chinese researchers have shared their practical experience, which has inspired us from Chinese technology."

Such cooperation can benefit many places affected by desertification. Basambat Oyundali, an ecological researcher from Mongolia, said that the lakes in her hometown were seriously degraded due to desertification. She hoped to learn from China's experience to find solutions, and believed that the green cooperation of the "the Belt and Road" would help to solve related problems.

Perseverance in the Desert

There are over 100 water well houses along the Tarim Desert Highway. The bus, loaded with foreign sand control experts, stopped on the 12th.

Wei Yali and her husband have been here for 4 years, guarding the protective forests and grass squares on both sides of the road in a vast desert.

"You are really amazing!" Alimbetova Shoreshla, Deputy Director of the Kazakhstan Foundation for Saving the Aral Sea, took a photo with Wei Yali as a memento. The cabin is only about 10 square meters, and it feels cramped to place the bed, tables, and chairs. Even experts cannot pose for a group photo.

Kabibrav Bashijiang, director of the Uzbekistan Aral Sea International Innovation Center, took out his phone, slid out a few photos on the screen, and said to Wei Yali, "Look, this is my hometown. Is it somewhat similar to here?"

They are all people who have struggled in the desert, but when they see the forest rangers who spend years with the sand, their hearts are still filled with admiration. Every morning, Wei Yali and her husband have to wake up early to check and maintain drip irrigation belts and solar panels, and take care of every tree in the protective forest before the sand is too hot for them to rest.

Although she didn't understand the language, Wei Yali happily gestured to communicate with foreign experts. Except for the master who regularly delivers supplies, most of the time only she and her husband stick to this desert.

Aberu Taina from Ethiopia hesitated to leave as she looked at Wei Yali and her cabin. "Chinese people are not afraid of hardship, they are so dedicated!" He sighed. From students to scientists, from farmers to engineers, all sectors of society have actively participated in afforestation work, which has become a culture in China. A united mass foundation has become an important source of strength in combating desertification.

Expectations on the dining table

If it weren't for what he saw with his own eyes, Zenab Bola couldn't have imagined that the towns on the edge of the desert would still have abundant harvests of food, herds of cattle and sheep, and a delicious grilled meat and rice meal anytime, anywhere.

Bora comes from Ethiopia, and his homeland is located in the Horn of Africa in the eastern part of the African continent, which is one of the poorest regions in the world.

"From childhood to adulthood, I have seen too many people become destitute due to drought, and many rely on a few livestock at home to make a living. When the dry season comes, the grass and cows are gone, and people fall into famine." Bola said that in recent years, Ethiopia has experienced frequent and prolonged droughts, and desertification is an important reason.

Omar Danradi Dahiru, the head of Nigeria's African Desertification Control Initiative, said that food shortages will inevitably lead to social unrest and even breed terrorism. "If we can overcome desertification, many problems will be easily solved because people have food on their tables."

To help Ethiopia fight against desertification, Chinese researchers have collaborated with the country to establish an ecological restoration and sustainable development model of "clean irrigation and grass cultivation, closed cultivation and rotational grazing, and combination of grazing and animal husbandry" in the local area. They have also built demonstration areas for fence enclosure and water collection restoration of forests and grasslands.

"I go to the demonstration zone for cooperation with China once a month and stay there for 15 days each time," Bola said. Although the over 600 kilometer journey requires 11 hours of bumpy driving, he never feels tired.

The Chinese and foreign desertification control training course, which lasted for more than 10 days, officially ended on June 20th. Bola said that Ethiopians compare revered individuals to "lions" and "tigers", and that "China is the 'Asian tiger' in combating desertification.".

"I hope one day, I can use Chinese technology to successfully combat desertification in Ethiopia," Bola said. "At that time, I could also be worthy of the title of 'tiger'."