Kezuohou Banner in Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is at the heart of a remarkable green turnaround. Over a focused management zone spanning 2 million mu (about 133,000 hectares), the once-barren Horqin Sandy Land is now dotted with thriving forests, as forest stock volume climbs year after year.
Harnessing a mix of drone-assisted seeding and age-old sand-fixing methods, local teams have boosted tree coverage by thousands of hectares annually. The result? Fewer dust storms and a more stable ecosystem that supports wildlife and local agriculture alike.
But this story is about more than trees. Beneath the new canopy, an under-forest industry has flourished. Residents cultivate mushrooms, berries, and medicinal herbs, raising household incomes and inspiring youth-led cooperatives focused on sustainable agribusiness.
Kezuohou’s journey offers a data-driven and community-centric model for regions battling land degradation. For global citizens and changemakers seeking scalable eco-solutions, Inner Mongolia’s sandy land miracle illuminates the roadmap from desert to destiny.
Reference(s):
Desert to green: Inner Mongolia sandy land's governance miracle
cgtn.com
