Policies tailored to suit local conditions

Recent environmental improvements on the Loess Plateau in Shanxi province are the result of policies tailored to suit the arid terrain and local climate.

In 1978, the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, also known as the Green Great Wall, was implemented to combat desertification and raise the national forestry rate by about 10 percent by 2050.

The establishment and development of tree plantations on the plateau has prevented the formation of windborne sand dunes and helped turn the dry land into a verdant area of greenery.

On average, the province receives less than 400 millimeters of rain annually, which means the soil is only suitable for certain crops.

“It has taken decades for local farmers and technicians to find effective methods of retaining soil and water,” said Sun Tuohuan, forestry professor and vice-dean of the Shanxi Academy of Forestry.

Fish-scale pits have provided one solution. The pits, arranged in rows across the mountain slopes, not only collect and retain rainfall effectively, but also provide a rudimentary irrigation system when they overflow, washing the soil and helping plants to take root.

“The Loess Plateau is a special landscape, so we have to consider specific ways to protect the environment,” Sun said, adding that large amounts of soil have been imported from the areas in which the plants were originally grown to give them a better chance of flourishing.

“In this environment, it is necessary to replace the native soil with soil the plants are used to.”

Wu Aimin, the program’s chief engineer, said endemic tree species, such as giant cedars and Robinia pseudoacacia, also known as the black locust, have been planted extensively because they will thrive and play an important role in preventing desertification, protecting the fragile environment and promoting the cultivation of cash crops.