ChineseToday | Grassroots desertification control worker dedicates 19 years to turning desert into oases

Xinhua
23 May 2026, 14:15 GMT+10

(260523) -- ALXA, May 23, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Ma Fenmei prepares for dinner at the Badain Jaran Desert in Alxa Right Banner, the Alxa League of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 21, 2026. Ma Fenmei, 52, a resident of Xialamu Gacha (village) of Mandala Sumu (town), has been working on desertification control in the Badain Jaran Desert for nineteen years.

About 30 years ago, the spring wind in the area was so severe that local people could barely open their eyes. In 2006, taking advantage of grazing ban and desertification control subsidy policies, Ma sold all the livestock and invested the money in planting saxaul trees in the desert. Every year from March to August, she lives in the desert, focusing on cultivating saxaul plants.

Initially, strong wind and heavy sand always buried the saxaul seedlings planted the day after they were planted. Ma kept replanting them. Over the course of one year, she managed to plant more than 500 mu (about 33.33 hectares) of saxaul trees. Now, with her rich planting experience and the promotion of sand control technologies, she has achieved a 90 pct survival rate for her saxaul plantations, covering a total area of more than 200,000 mu (about 13,333 hectares). The saxaul trees have gradually blocked shifting sand, turning the desert into vast oases.

Alxa Right Banner has launched support policies to encourage farmers and herders to cultivate saxaul plants, making significant progress in the ecological restoration of the Badain Jaran Desert. "If people treat the desert well, the desert will reward them," said Ma. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Afghanistan Sun.

More Information

International

Section

Dublin erupts over death of Congolese-born man outside apartment

DUBLIN, Ireland: Hundreds of people gathered outside Ireland's parliament on May 21 to protest the death of a Congolese-born man, which...

Equinor warns Europe gas stocks could turn critical

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: Europe could face a serious gas shortage if shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz continue for...

Ebola outbreak in Congo expected to grow, WHO warns

GENEVA, Switzerland: The World Health Organization said on May 20 that the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo likely...

Trump’s stock trading raises fresh ethics concerns

NEW YORK CITY, New York: U.S. President Donald Trump disclosed more than 3,600 stock trades during the first quarter of 2026, revealing...

US missile defense shield criticized by China, Russia in Beijing

BEIJING, China: A week after President Xi Jinping hosted Trump in Beijing, China and Russia, at a summit on May 20, condemned U.S....

Bank accounts of former Mexican officials accused by US frozen

MEXICO CITY, Mexico: Mexico has frozen the bank accounts of some former officials accused by the United States of having links to the...

Central Asia

Section