Minqin county innovates reforestation of desert

Minqin county has preserved more than 2.3 million mu (about 153,333 hectares) for artificially planted forests, and more than 3.25 million mu (about 216,666 hectares) of natural sand has been dedicated to facilitate vegetation. [Photo by Ma Aibin/chinadaily.com.cn]

In recent years, Minqin county, Gansu province has updated its methods for turning the desert green.

Located in the northeast part of Hexi Corridor, Minqin is a vital site for preventing the Tengger and Badain Jaran deserts from merging.

Zhang Shihu, engineer of Minqin county forestry and grassland bureau, said they used local conditions to choose nine kinds of material and more than four psammophytes to carry out their tree-planting experiment.

"Combined with psammophytes, we use nylon mesh grids in areas along roads and ditches. Because of nylon's lifespan of 15 to 20 years, the grid can last for a long time and works well," Zhang added.

In the past years, people in this county have been laying grass grids to lock down drifting sand. It can reduce wind speed and create a friendly environment for psammophytes to survive. So far, more than one million mu (66,666 hectares) of desert have been covered with such grass grids.