Ordos rises from the dust: the green gold in the desert (2)

Otgonhuar’s dream has become a reality over the past three decades, as government-led afforestation efforts, with active participation from enterprises and residents, have successfully stopped the spread of desertification and poverty. [Photo by Tanja Herko]

The guardian, rose and desert

Not unnaturally in a city besieged by deserts, sandstorms used to engulf Ordos. Desertification brought air pollution and drought, making farming and grazing impossible. Clearing a path through dust and dirt was the first thing locals had to do in the morning, while sand dunes were ubiquitous in the dust-laden city, providing local kids their only entertainment — sand slides.

“The desert was a nightmare for me. When the local authorities encouraged us to plant trees in the desert, I couldn't stop laughing. How on earth could we turn a desert into an oasis? I couldn't believe it,” said Otgonhuar.

Unlike Otgonhuar, who initially had no faith in tree planting in the desert, 51-year-old Jia Wenyi, director of Sharizhao sand management station in northwest Ordos’ Hanggin Banner, along with his 35 desert rangers, have already been planting trees in Kubuqi for an entire lifetime.

“My grandfather started working at this sand management station when it was established in 1953. My father and I have inherited his mantle, hoping to build an oasis in the desert,” said Jia.

According to Jia, the local authorities started to take serious action almost 30 years ago, implementing advanced sand desertification control technologies in 1990. Ever since, he and his rangers have been helping locals to plant trees in the desert, turning sand into grassland patch by patch.

“For the past few decades, our station has offered locals free saplings and tech support. According to local policies, if you plant trees in the desert, you can own the land for 70 years. Such moves have inspired people to plant more trees in the desert,” said Jia.

51-year-old Jia Wenyi, director of Sharizhao sand management station in northwest Ordos’ Hanggin Banner, has already been planting trees in Kubuqi for an entire lifetime. [Photo by Tanja Herko]

Government encouragement to plant trees revealed a glittering prospect for Otgonhuar, who was then working at a local bank. She quit her job, joined a construction team to plant trees on the Kubuqi highway in 1997, and finally started her own tree-planting business in 2009.

“Initially, my plan was to make money. But as time went by, I realized that planting trees is not merely a business, but also a great cause. Only by finally getting rid of the desert could we become rich and happy,” she said.

Holding on to this green dream, Otgonhuar and her team have afforested over 2,000 hectares of sandy land in Kubuqi Desert in just a decade, with a sapling survival rate of over 95 percent. Her team is now often hired by many local companies to plant trees in the desert. Under her leadership, 25 low-income workers now earn a daily wage of around 200 RMB ($29), while she earns over 200,000 RMB per year.

“Planting trees in the desert has changed my life. The improved environment has made me happier, and I want to spread this thought to all,” said Otgonhuar, who has been hailed by the locals as the “desert rose,” encouraging more women to join her cause to make the desert greener.

Echoing Otgonhuar, Jia said the local environment has dramatically improved in the past three decades. Animals like pheasants, rabbits and foxes now inhabit the newly planted grasslands, while precipitation and air quality have also improved significantly.

“Most locals have now reached a consensus to plant trees and protect the environment. For three generations, my family has been guarding the desert, and I hope my children will continue to eradicate desertification in the future,” said Jia.