A national conference on major engineering projects for ecological protection and restoration, as well as the comprehensive control of desertification, was held in Alshaa League on July 27-28. [Photo/WeChat account of Alshaa Broadcasting and TV Station]

A national conference on major engineering projects for ecological protection and restoration, as well as the comprehensive control of desertification, was held in Alshaa League, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on July 27-28.

The conference discussed the new situation and requirements faced by the construction of major engineering projects for ecological protection and restoration, as well as the comprehensive control of desertification nationwide.

Experts from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration delivered special lectures on the comprehensive control of desertification. The development and reform commissions of Shanxi, Hubei, and Yunnan provinces, as well as Minqin county in Gansu province and Alshaa League, shared their experience in promoting major engineering projects for ecological protection and restoration.

Attendees also visited the desertification control projects, sand-related industrial bases and Alshaa Ecological Industry Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Park, learning first-hand knowledge about the comprehensive and systematic treatment and management of mountains, rivers, forests, farmland, lakes, grasslands, and sandy areas.

Attendees of the conference visit an afforestation project in Alshaa League. [Photo/WeChat account of Alshaa Broadcasting and TV Station]

They learned about the successful experience and practices in strengthening the ecological protection of oases, scientifically implementing vegetation restoration, and promoting desertification control to accelerate the construction of an ecological security barrier in northern China.

With the three major deserts of Tengri, Badan Jaran and Ulan Buh running through it, Alshaa League has 197,000 square kilometers of desertified land, accounting for 50 percent of the total desertified land in the autonomous region, meaning it plays an important role in building this ecological security barrier in northern China.

Alshaa has gained significant and promotable experience in the comprehensive control of desertification.

It has also achieved the continuous reduction of desertified land, alleviated wind erosion, reduced the level of sand dust in the air, and balanced grass ecology with healthy animal husbandry.

Afforestation in Alshaa League. [Photo/WeChat account of Alshaa Broadcasting and TV Station]

Moreover, it has achieved steadily rising levels of vegetation, remarkable wetland restoration, built a natural protected area system, effectively protected biodiversity, and seen the rapid development of the sand industry through the natural way of desertification control and the involvement of society as a whole.

Since 1980, over 60,666 sq km of desertified land has been treated in the league. In addition, Alshaa has promoted sustainable development by strengthening partnerships among enterprises, scientific research institutions, cooperatives, and farmers. From 2016 to 2020, the output value of the sand-derived industry in the league reached 19.95 billion yuan ($2.79 billion), greatly increasing the incomes of farmers and herdsmen.