Staff members distribute promotional materials to visitors during the commemorative event. [Photo/Hohhot Evening News]

The city of Hohhot on June 17 commemorated the 30th World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, as well as the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

It did so by organizing a big commemorative event at the Wusutu National Forest Park, highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat desertification and strengthen the ecological security barrier in North China.

"In recent years, the ecological environment in Hohhot has significantly improved," said a local resident visiting the park with his family.

"Everywhere feels cool and comfortable in summer, thanks to the anti-desertification efforts," he added. "Thumbs up to the forestry and grassland workers for their sand prevention and control work".

Since the 18th National Congress, Hohhot has implemented key ecological projects such as the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program – returning farmland to forests and grasslands, controlling wind and sand sources and restoring degraded grasslands.

The city has topped its annual targets, with 3.22 million mu (214,680 hectares) of afforestation, 1.13 million mu of grass planting and 3.29 million mu of desert control completed.

By the end of 2023, the forest area had reached 4.07 million mu, with a coverage rate of 15.78 percent. Equally as impressive, the grassland area stood at 8.32 million mu, with a comprehensive vegetation coverage of 46.15 percent, while the wetland area was 570,000 mu with a protection rate of 35.2 percent.