Poverty Alleviation in Inner Mongolia: Tradition, innovation and greenery (3)

Over the last 17 years, Zhang and his team have planted trees covering an area of 4,000 hectares. [Photo by Tanja Herko]

Plant the green gold

Liu's idea of protecting the environment has been shared by Zhang Xiwang, who has been planting trees in the Kubuqi Desert, China's seventh-largest desert, for 17 years. His tree-planting business has helped dozens of farmers like him out of poverty, enjoying the green benefits.

“Before I started planting trees in 2002, I was a farmer with a barren field of no more than one hectare. No matter how hard I worked, desert sandstorms would destroy my crops, and I made less than 4,000 RMB per year," said 48-year-old Zhang.

Severe desertification forced Zhang to find a new way of living. When local authorities and enterprises started to hire workers to plant trees in the desert, Zhang decided to join the cause.

"In the beginning, the only thing I thought about was working hard and getting rid of poverty, I had no idea why we should plant trees in the desert, but I knew it was my only way to survive," said Zhang.

Planting trees in the desert is a difficult mission, especially as Zhang was an inexperienced layman when he started. He had to walk 3 kilometers into the desert to find a suitable spot to plant trees, and he often got lost in the desert, facing mortal danger.

"Often, the saplings I planted were buried by sandstorms overnight. Without advanced technologies in the previous years, most trees I planted died. I was devastated, and I thought about giving up," said Zhang.

Though battered by failure and danger, the experience of planting trees in the desert changed Zhang's mind. He realized the importance of curbing desertification, understanding the necessity of environmental protection.

"If we don't plant trees, moving dunes will eventually devour my hometown. Planting trees is not only a business; it is also my duty and responsibility," said Zhang.

Zhang Xiwang has been planting trees in the Kubuqi Desert, China's seventh-largest desert, for 17 years. [Photo by Tanja Herko]

After working as a planter for eight years, Zhang set up a team to plant trees in the desert. With years of experience, his team has developed new techniques to ensure the survival rate of the trees, while modern transportation and technologies are used to tackle desertification.

"With the support of local authorities, my team is now hired by many enterprises to plant trees in the Kubuqi Desert. Our tech and labor services are highly praised, and our team is growing stronger," said Zhang.

Over the last 17 years, Zhang and his team have planted trees covering an area of 4,000 hectares. His team employs as many as 78 poor local farmers, who have all been lifted out of poverty. Zhang himself now earns over 100,000 RMB per year.

Zhang's story has inspired many people to pursue their green dreams. As of 2019, 288 tree planting and sand control teams have been set up to tackle desertification, with members earning an average daily wage of 200 RMB.

"Planting trees has not only helped me get rid of poverty, but it has also educated me about the importance of environmental protection. We are not only making the desert greener, but we are also spreading the green ideology to the world," said Zhang.