Otog Front Banner in Ordos city obtains the honorable title of “National Ecological Civilization Construction Demonstration Banner”. [Photo/people.cn]

Otog Front Banner in Ordos city was granted the honorable title of “National Ecological Civilization Construction Demonstration Banner.” 

The honor was announced at an award ceremony held in Beijing on Nov 30.

Otog Front Banner has prioritized the environment and accelerated its moves towards high-quality green development, operating under the philosophy that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.”

In recent years, a series of efforts have significantly improved the ecological conditions of the banner.

The ecological system of Otog Front Banner has been established, with ecological indicators continuing to develop towards excellence. Environmental living standards have also achieved new improvements, and urban and rural human settlements have been continuously optimized.

The ratio of “excellent water quality” for centralized drinking water sources in the banner has reached 100 percent, and the hygiene qualification rate of rural drinking water has reached 100 percent. 

Meanwhile, there have been no drinking water pollution accidents for three consecutive years.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the area of severe and extremely severe desertification in the Maowusu sandy land was reduced by 6.28 million mu, and 4.38 million mu (418,667 hectares) of the shelter forest system was completed.

Since 2000, a total of 2.68 million mu of afforestation tasks have been completed, and the forest coverage of the whole banner has increased from 7 percent to 23.9 percent.

The proportion of days rated “good” or “excellent” air quality in the banner exceeds 93 percent, and PM2.5 content is maintained at 22ug/m3 all year round.