China's CCTV reported that the ecological environment in the Three-North region, which includes Northwest China, North China, and Northeast China, has been continuously improving. This is not only the result of generations of Chinese people's relentless efforts but also due to the accumulation of scientific sand control practices.
In the heart of the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang, sand control workers meticulously set up grid patterns in the sand dunes. They insert wheat straw about 15 centimeters deep into the sand, leaving around 20 centimeters exposed above ground, weaving it into durable "land armor" that firmly stabilizes drifting sand dunes.
In Otog Banner, Inner Mongolia, drones are used to precisely transport and drop sandy willow branches into designated areas. On the ground, robot planters and semi-automatic planting vehicles work efficiently in tandem, becoming the new generation of "sand control tools."
The robots move steadily, precisely planting 1-meter-long sandy willow branches into the sand. Performing trenching, planting, and covering in one seamless operation, they complete the planting of sandy willows over one mu of sand (about 0.067 hectares) in just 19 minutes.
In Ningxia, researchers have explored innovative methods by artificially intervening to select advantageous algal species from natural algal crusts for application on the sandy surface. This artificial blue-green algae crust technology can rapidly cultivate crust layers in just 1-2 years, which would take many years to form under natural conditions, significantly enhancing sand fixation efficiency.
Lu Qi, President of the "Three-North" Project Research Institute of China's Forestry Academy, pointed out that over the past two years, more than 100 key scientific and technological achievements have been promoted and applied in the Three-North region. Mechanized sand control afforestation accounts for nearly 50%, and the usage rate of superior tree and grass species exceeds 70%.
The vivid practice of China's sand control path not only embodies the scientific concept of respecting and adapting to nature but is also empowered by modern technology.
Adopting a strategy that suits local conditions—by planting trees where suitable and grasses where appropriate—after generations of continued effort, the vegetation coverage in the four major sandy areas has significantly increased. Biodiversity is gradually recovering, and the once-barren desert is now thriving with life, creating an ecological miracle of "sand retreating and greenery advancing."