In the sandy heart of the Hexi Corridor, technology is driving a quiet green revolution.

In Jinta county's Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program（an environmental initiative launched in 1978 to combat desertification）area, drones have become indispensable in combating desertification. These advanced tools reduce labor costs and enable precise, large-scale sand control, vastly improving management efficiency.

Workers operate drones to transport sand control materials in the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program area. [Photo provided to gogansu.com]

He Yushu, a forestry engineer at the Jinta County Forestry Technology Promotion Station, guides farmers in trimming and preparing tamarisk seedlings with precision and care.

The station's tamarisk breeding base now serves as a "seedling factory" for desert control. Built around the superior "Jinta tamarisk" variety, the base integrates research, breeding, and promotion into a unified system. With over 20 million seedlings cultivated, it supplies major projects like the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program and Hexi Corridor wind erosion initiatives. These hardy tamarisks act as "desert guardians", locking shifting sands and restoring fragile ecosystems.

An innovative "solar panels above, desert control below" approach shines at the Jiuduntan Photovoltaic Desert Control Demonstration Park in Wuwei. Beneath rows of photovoltaic (solar) panels, desert plants firmly anchor the soil, delivering both ecological preservation and economic gain.

At the sand control base in Xinglong village, Shoucheng town, Minqin county, multiple trenching tractors operate on the desert, preparing pits for tree planting. [Photo provided to gogansu.com]

At the Gansu Provincial Desert Control Research Institute in Minqin county, innovative machinery addresses the inefficiencies of traditional labor-intensive methods. Equipment like hand-push sand barrier machines, nylon net laying systems, and straw barrier installers streamline operations, boosting efficiency while cutting costs.

From drones to photovoltaic sand control, from plant research to specialized machinery, Gansu has pioneered diverse solutions to desertification. These efforts reflect "Gansu wisdom", offering inspiration for resilience. Through technology and innovation, Gansu is steadily moving toward the vision of "greening the desert" and creating a sustainable future.