Thanks to the unremitting efforts of many generations for nearly 6 decades, China has transformed an arid desert into a forest cover of more than 7,000 hectares.
This is the Saihanba desert located in Hebei province, China, about 400km north of the capital Beijing. This place used to be an ideal vacation spot for the Imperial family during the feudal period, but around the end of the Qing Dynasty, it became a desert due to severe deforestation.
The forest cover in this area is now up to 80%.
The green forest cover up to 7400 hectares covers the desert.
The extensive development of the Saihanba desert has led to many environmental problems, affecting neighboring cities, including the capital Beijing.
In 1962, more than 300 forestry officials were sent to Saihanba. Here, they are tasked with planting trees right on the desert land. The cadres had to set up tents right on the arid land and grow their own food.
For nearly 6 decades, many generations of forestry workers have overcome difficulties, maintaining the belief that they can grow trees in the desert. And now, the results have come when the once arid desert becomes a forest of 7400 hectares. The forest area covers this large area up to 80%.
The unremitting efforts of the local government in Saihanba have been recognized. In 2017, they were honored to receive the Earth award given by the United Nations.