Guardians of China's desert can plant trees in just 10 seconds

March 12 marks this year's Arbor Day, an annual holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees.

To celebrate, we’ve found two guardians of China’s desert in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region who can each plant a single tree in just 10 seconds!

Zhang Xiwang, a professional agriculturist with 20 years of experience in forestation, has now covered a cultivated area of over 20,000 mu（13.3 square kilometers). Nie Xikuan has covered an area of 8,000 mu (5.33 square kilometers) in just 11 years.

But how can these men plant a tree in just 10 seconds? Can the sapling survive in the hot desert?

Wu Yichang, a researcher from the Kubuqi Desert Research Institute, says the short answer is yes.

According to Wu, the current technique has two advantages. First, it preserves the water in the sand. Using a shovel will unavoidably overturn the sand, which in turn will lead to the evaporation of any moisture in the ground. Secondly, the technique is best for sand dune willows, as this tree variety is robust and can withstand the extreme conditions of the desert.

The data they’ve acquired backs up their claims, as 1.5 million mu (1,000 square kilometers) of cultivated land has witnessed a survival rate of over 80 percent during the past eight years.