Shanxi unveils plan for desertification control, prevention

North China's Shanxi province has recently introduced its desertification control and prevention plan for the 2021-30 period.

The plan outlines a timeline, steps, and measures for gradually reducing desertified land across the province.

Desertification is prevalent in the northern and northwestern part of the province. Considering factors such as soil properties, topography, vegetation, and climate, the plan divides desertified land into three locations: the Sanggan River Valley Comprehensive Management Zone, the Ecologically Fragile Yellow River Comprehensive Management Zone, and the Great Wall Ecological Protection Area.

By 2025, the province aims to complete the task of controlling desertification on 65,000 hectares of land, with sustained increases in forest and grass vegetation.  

By 2030, the target is to control desertification on 112,500 hectares of land, with a stable increase in vegetation cover in desert areas, a continuous reduction in desertification, and a significant improvement in the ecological conditions of key areas such as the Yellow River and the Haihe River basins.

For the duration of the plan, Shanxi will protect its land, strictly enforce relevant laws and regulations, crack down on illegal activities that harm desert ecological systems and cause land desertification, strengthen the protection of forest and desertified farmland, and increase vegetation cover in desert areas.

Additionally, on the basis of protecting the environment, Shanxi will moderately and orderly develop water-saving, low-carbon, and environmentally friendly desert industries, such as desert agriculture and tourism.