Chinese scientists turn sand into fertile soil

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

In Pakistan they still use the "Fertilizer only solution" which really is created by Dead Carbon plants and animal bi product.

If China is also introducing liquid/paste based plant food source , would be nice to see a documentary or video to learn more


The amount of Vegetation looks amazing for the "Paste" based approach

Key ingredient in end is "Water' and Carbon nutrients, and the past must have the carbon elements

But if this level of vegetation can be sustained with minimum water then it is quite unique

I was interested to know how much water was consumed for this small patch , or was any other feeding material / fertilizer was added

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

If this particular approach uses a different method certainly would be interesting to know just what was changed

Plus another big strategy is to simply mix https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphagnum into the sand. Sphagnum retains water..so plants have a chance to grab it before it sinks through. It's a standard thing to do since when they build houses here they end up excavating a large hole for basements. This excavated stuff is usually all sand. Instead of trucking it all away they end up spreading it all around the land near the home. So now you have a nice new home surrounded by sand (geez!! thanks for nothing!)

 

[Solomon2]

It is a wise caution by our scientists because we have experience of over-planting trees in the "Three-North Shelter Forest Program" that led to excessive drawing of water underground In the end the success rate fell short of our expectations

That wasn't the only failed reforestation effort in China: I recall an old National Geographic discussing several, none of which was heard from a decade later...

I think Yi fears that the Party will seize on his work to undertake massive reclamation that, because the underground aquifers will be over-exploited, would fail after only a few years. And such an effort could not be repeated for centuries because the water will be lost to the atmosphere, not flow back into the ground.

Also, Yi's paper implies that for long-term large-scale reclamation more expertise is needed. I suppose hydrological engineers, meteorologists, and geographers need to study his work and plan where reclamation sites should go so that the result benefits the environment, rather than poison it. An example of what can go wrong is the Salton Sea.

 

[Three_Kingdoms]

In Pakistan they still use the "Fertilizer only solution" which really is created by Dead Carbon plants and animal bi product.

If China is also introducing liquid/paste based plant food source , would be nice to see a documentary or video to learn more


The amount of Vegetation looks amazing for the "Paste" based approach

Key ingredient in end is "Water' and Carbon nutrients, and the past must have the carbon elements

But if this level of vegetation can be sustained with minimum water then it is quite unique

I was interested to know how much water was consumed for this small patch , or was any other feeding material / fertilizer was added

Knowlege exchange is always good for the world

Arab scientists learn desert agriculture techniques in China
26 Sep 2013 | 15:09 BST | Posted by Mohammed Yahia | Category: Environment, Research, Science

While the Middle East may have been the cradle of agriculture, it isn’t the most friendly area in the world when it comes to growing plants. Well over two thirds of the area is harsh desert, making growing enough crops to feed a rapidly increasing population one of the trickiest challenges Arab countries face.

Sixteen researchers from Yemen, Sudan, Libya, Palestine and Morocco have spent a month in China as part of a training programme in the Chinese autonomous region of Ningxia Hui. The programme teaches Arab scientists techniques used in Ningxia to fight desertification, which has successfully reduced its deserts from 1.65 million hectares in the 1970’s to 1.18 million hectares in 2010, according to China News.

The scientists are then expected to adapt these techniques to support agriculture back home. These range from using chemicals or vegetation to stabilize sand dunes to developing drought-resistant crops that can become lucrative businesses.

The Anti-Desertification Technology Training Program for Arab Countries has been held annually since 2006 and has trained over 100 scientists from the Arab world till now. However, it is not clear how effective it has been in transforming agriculture in the region. In fact, agricultural techniques used in most Arab states in the Middle East have remained unchanged for hundreds of years.

The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), which was headquartered in Aleppo, Syria until it had to move to neighbouring Jordan due to the civil war there, has been working for decades in the region to research and educate farmers on new ways to increase their yield and counter droughts. They have produced various strains of drought-resistant and disease-resistant wheat that have been pivotal in the harsh deserts of the Middle East.

http://blogs.nature.com/houseofwisd...-desert-friendly-agricultural-techniques.html

 

[Great Sachin]

Hope this is not another water car story

 

[Three_Kingdoms]

That wasn't the only failed reforestation effort in China: I recall an old National Geographic discussing several, none of which was heard from a decade later...

I think Yi fears that the Party will seize on his work to undertake massive reclamation that, because the underground aquifers will be over-exploited, would fail after only a few years. And such an effort could not be repeated for centuries because the water will be lost to the atmosphere, not flow back into the ground.

Also, Yi's paper implies that for long-term large-scale reclamation more expertise is needed. I suppose hydrological engineers, meteorologists, and geographers need to study his work and plan where reclamation sites should go so that the result benefits the environment, rather than poison it. An example of what can go wrong is the Salton Sea.

"That wasn't the only failed reforestation effort in China: I recall an old National Geographic discussing several, none of which was heard from a decade later..."

There is a mix of reportings
Some of our desertification projects are not as good as expected but some are showing promising improvements
I do not rule out the negative reportings were being used to have a go at China due to the reporters' hidden agenda


China's Reforestation Efforts Successful, NASA Images Confirm
By Homar Murillo Mar 21, 2016 06:09 AM EDT

China has managed to reverse centuries-worth of deforestation, according to recently released NASA images, providing some inspiration and hope for other countries to do the same.


The country has been on a steady trend towards industrialization, which is often correlated with environmental degradation. Deforestation, pollution and natural resources depletion have resulted from China's rapid economic boom in the past four decades.

Many did not expect the environmental improvements that China was able to achieve but this was scientifically verified. Based on the images captured by NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), it was revealed that 1.6 percent of the total land surface of China became heavily forested in a span of only ten years from 2000 to 2010.

The reforestation rate is higher compared to the 0.38 percent deforestation rate for the same period. Around 160,000 square kilometers or 61,000 square miles of land area was covered.
Analyses of the NASA MODIS images were carried out and published by Dr. Andres Viña and colleagues from the University of Michigan. They confirmed that China's reforestation program is working effectively in line with the country's climate change mitigation agenda.

Tthe scientists were reportedly impressed by the positive results of the China's reforestation efforts. The progress that China made in environmental protection and preservation was significant, according to them.

"Our results are very positive for China," Viña said in a EurekAlert report. "If you look at China in isolation, its program is working effectively and contributing to carbon sequestration in accordance to its agenda for climate change mitigation. But on the other hand, China is not in a vacuum."

He pointed out that China's reforestation success could be detrimental to other countries because the huge country is not importing timber products from other countries. This will create a demand economic pressure on countries that export timber.

The Christian Science Monitor website published a similar story, emphasizing that the analysis of the satellite data should not be limited to only one nation. In a globalized community of nations, the bigger picture must always be taken into consideration.

These analyses were published recently in Science Advances.

http://www.natureworldnews.com/arti...tion-nasa-deforestation-efforts-pollution.htm



Tibet's forests increased by 20,000 square km in 10 years
By Source:China Tibet Online 2015-07-21

Tibet's forest coverage has increased from a 12.37 percent share of the land to 14.01 percent since 2002, growing to 1.95 million hectares (or 19,500 square kilometers) in more than 10 years, according to the recent survey by the Tibet Forestry Department.

On April 8, the Forestry Department of the Tibet Autonomous Region announced the results of the second survey of two types of forest resources for the Tibet Autonomous Region. The survey found that within the 1,202,100-square-kilometer land in Tibet, 14.01 percent is covered by forests. Within this figure, the natural forests occupy 99.23 percent of the total forest area. The forests’ ecological structure remains intact and is in top condition, with natural resources largely existing in their original state. The forests’ ecosystems are stable; nutrients circulate and energy flows in a state of dynamic equilibrium.

Lei Guilong, director of the Forestry Department of the Tibet Autonomous Region, says that compared with the data collected from the first survey in 2002, Tibet’s forest area has increased by 1.95 million hectares, an increase of 13.09 percent, and forest reserves have increased by 193.2 million cubic meters, an increase of 10.21 percent. In more than 10 years, Tibet has achieved double growth in area of forest resources and volume of reserves, while its environmental quality continues to improve.

Lei Guilong says that the benefits resulting from the double growth of forest area and volume of reserves have been due to the fact that the Forestry Department of the Tibet Autonomous Region has continuously emphasized the importance of forestry on the Tibetan Plateau for the past few years. This has been done through implementing the protection of natural forests, returning farmland to forests, anti-desertification, and construction of a large number of key forestry projects for the protection of nature reserves, which have substantially accelerated the pace of reforestation. Effective protection of the ecological environment on the plateau means that the natural resources of the forests continue to increase.

Although the recent survey data shows forest resources in Tibet have increased somewhat, compared with the rest of the country, they are still insufficient. Tibet's Forestry Department said that from now on, through the establishment of a sound evaluation system for forest growth evaluation system, it will actively carry out research into the plateau's forest carbon credits, which will strengthen efforts to protect and develop Tibet's forest resources.

http://english.chinatibetnews.com/hb/News/201507/t20150721_707555.html

 

[Jlaw]

That wasn't the only failed reforestation effort in China: I recall an old National Geographic discussing several, none of which was heard from a decade later...

I think Yi fears that the Party will seize on his work to undertake massive reclamation that, because the underground aquifers will be over-exploited, would fail after only a few years. And such an effort could not be repeated for centuries because the water will be lost to the atmosphere, not flow back into the ground.

Also, Yi's paper implies that for long-term large-scale reclamation more expertise is needed. I suppose hydrological engineers, meteorologists, and geographers need to study his work and plan where reclamation sites should go so that the result benefits the environment, rather than poison it. An example of what can go wrong is the Salton Sea.

Where is this National Geographic article?

 

[Three_Kingdoms]

中国库布其治沙人是我们的老师
2016-06-17 10:50:00环球网分享

　　

　　科学家考察团考察沙漠腹地生态修复区

　　6月14日至15日，由原伦德大学荣誉教授、国际环境问题专家Ulf Hellden、皇家理工学院可持续发展科学及工程系主任Fredrik Gröndahl、斯德哥尔摩大学环境及资源动态管理副教授Salim Belyazid 、斯德哥尔摩大学环境及资源动态管理研究生Carl Osterin、瑞典科学研究院高级研究员Susanne Paulrud、瑞典六韬瑞智公司CEOPar UhlinPar Uhlin等组成的瑞典科学家考察团一行远渡重洋来到中国库布其沙漠，和中科院寒区旱区环境与工程研究所所长王涛，北京大学首都发展研究院副院长蔡满堂等中国科学家一同考察亿利资源库布其沙漠生态文明建设成果。

　　

　　科学家考察团考察陈红湾沙漠节水农业示范区

　　瑞典科学家考察团一行先后实地考察了亿利库布其西部生态修复区、气流法和螺旋打孔种树技术、有机生物饲料加工项目、沙漠节水农业示范区、种质资源库、亿利东方学校、库布其沙漠清洁能源工业园区、200WMp生态光伏项目区、牧民旧居、牧民新村、库布其国际沙漠论坛会址及沙漠科技馆、博物馆、植物馆等，并来到牧民布赫家里详细了解库布其土著居民的生产生活情况。

　

　　科学家考察团参观种质资源库

　　在库布其3000平方公里西部生态修复区，瑞典皇家理工学院可持续发展科学及工程系主任Fredrik Gröndahl表示：“在来到库布其以前，我们想我们瑞典是全世界生态修复最为发达的国家之一，在生态环保领域我们要领先世界近1个世纪，此行来到中国考察应该是帮助指点绿色生态发展，没想到看了库布其以后，我们才发现，你们才是我们的老师。”

　　原伦德大学荣誉教授、国际环境问题专家Ulf Hellden称：“90年代我就来到过库布其，那时这里满眼荒漠，今天确成了成片绿洲，真是不可思议，也让我亲眼见证了库布其的奇迹。”

　　

　　科学家考察团走访当地牧民

　　斯德哥尔摩大学环境及资源动态管理副教授Salim Belyazid表示：“此行来到中国库布其沙漠，让我们感受最深的就是你们从一开始设计的时候就把人的因素考虑进去，而没有把自然环境和人类和谐共处方式割裂开来，而且整个项目成为了一个大的绿色社区，融入了生态、经济、能源、社会效益和治沙扶贫，这一点值得我们学习。你们能用近30年坚持沙漠生态治理，让上万平方公里的沙漠变为绿洲，而且在科技和产业上拥有科学的、技术的解决方案，这个项目的远景规划和独立的项目规模及其成就另人震撼。”

　　科学家考察团参观沙漠种质资源标本展示

　　来到沙峰绿谷，放眼放去，沙漠中的低洼地带全部被绿色覆盖，一片片绿洲与金色的沙丘交相辉映，斯德哥尔摩大学环境及资源动态管理研究生Carl Osterin看到表达了中国人的绿色希望和亿利人的绿色梦想的用沙地柏植成的“绿色中国梦”几个大字，不禁感叹到：“It's amazing!”。

　　

　　科学家考察团考察沙峰绿谷

　　瑞典考察团斯德哥尔摩大学副教授Salim Belyazid对中国荒漠化防治取得的成就给予了高度赞赏和认可，并表示：“亿利资源的绿色事业对国家和人类具有重要意义，项目的规模、面积之大令人震撼，通过科学技术的投入绿化沙漠、发展沙漠生态经济，带动当地农牧民脱贫致富，应该将这种模式应用推广到全球更多的荒漠化地区!”

　　双方还在库布其沙漠举行了库布其论坛中瑞科学家对话，深入交流了沙漠生态修复、种质资源建设、生物土壤地理信息大数据、库布其模式推广、生态产业开发等议题，并达成了深入开展科技合作的意向。

　　中科院寒区旱区环境与工程研究所所长王涛表示：“在治理沙漠的同时，建立数据监测系统和动态模型，经过科学验证的技术来解决问题，达到充分合理利用使用效率，可实现资源的有效管理，优化管理途径，直观了解库布其模式模型整体运行，降低管理成本，形成独立的科研评价体系，希望中瑞双方共同为沙漠治理和环境保护提供强有力的技术支撑。”

　　北京大学教授蔡满堂提出：“在库布其现有的生态修复成果上，从务实和可行性角度考虑，整合提升现有技术资源及技术研发途径，总结提炼已有技术，创新技术，形成核心技术进行推广，推进科技与产业的结合，双方建立长期的、紧密的交流和合作关系，为荒漠化治理作出贡献。”

http://world.huanqiu.com/exclusive/2016-06/9052507.html


google translation:

Swedish scientists: Chinese Kubuqi sand (edit: people fighting desertification) are our teachers
2016-06-17 10:50:00 Global Network Share

June 14 to 15, the former honorary professor at the University of Lund, international environmental expert Ulf Hellden, Scientific and Engineering Department Fredrik Gröndahl, dynamic environment and resource management at Stockholm University associate professor Salim Belyazid, Stockholm University, the Royal Institute of Sustainable Development environment and resource dynamics Graduate Carl Osterin, the Swedish Research Institute senior researcher Susanne Paulrud, Sweden Tragic Hero Ruizhi Gong Division CEOPar UhlinPar Uhlin other components of the Swedish delegation of scientists across the ocean to China Kubuqi desert, Chinese Academy of Sciences and cold regions Vice President of capital development and Arid Regions environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Wang Tao, Beijing University and other Chinese scientists Cai Mantang together ScS Elion resources Kubuqi desert ecological civilization construction achievements.

Swedish scientists delegation has inspected the western one hundred million Li Kubu its ecological restoration area, air drilling method and spiral trees technology, bio-organic feed processing projects, water-saving agriculture demonstration zone desert, germplasm bank, Elion East school, Kubuqi desert clean energy industrial park, 200WMp ecological photovoltaic project area, the former residence of herders, pastoralists Village, Kubuqi international desert Forum venue and desert science museums, museums, museum and other plants, and came home herders Buch Details Learn its cloth production and living conditions of indigenous peoples.

Kubuqi 3000 km2 in the western area of ecological restoration, KTH Sustainable Development of Science and Engineering Department Fredrik Gröndahl said: "In its cloth came before, we think that we in Sweden is the world's most developed countries, ecological restoration one, in the field of environmental protection we want to lead the world nearly a century, came to China to investigate this line should be urged to help develop green, I did not expect its cloth looked after, we discovered that you is our teacher. "

Professor Emeritus, former University of Lund, international environmental expert Ulf Hellden said: "I came over 90 years for its cloth, then here eyeful desert, today really has become into a piece of oasis, really incredible, and I witnessed Kubuqi miracle. "
Stockholm University associate professor of environmental and dynamic management of resources Salim Belyazid said: "The trip to China Kubuqi desert, let us feel the most is when you designed from the outset to put the human factor into account, but not the natural environment and way humans live in harmony separated, and the whole project became a big green community, into the ecological, economic, energy, social and sand poverty alleviation, which is worthy of our study. you can adhere to the desert for nearly 30 years ecological management let the million square kilometers of desert into an oasis, and with scientific, technical solutions in technology and industry, the vision of the project and the size of the project and its achievements independent shock other people. "

To Green Valley sand peak, look to let go, the desert lowlands were all covered with green, an oasis of golden sand dunes and pavilions, Stockholm University Environment and Resources Dynamic Management Graduate Carl Osterin see expressed the Chinese people's hopes and green by Sabina vulgaris plant into a "green China dream" a few characters who Yili green dream, can not help but sigh: "It's amazing!".

Sweden Stockholm University, Associate Professor Salim Belyazid delegation to China desertification control achievements gave high appreciation and recognition, and said: "green businesses Elion Resources is of great significance for the country and humanity, the scale of the project, a large area of the shocking , by putting green desert, desert ecology economic development, promote local farmers and herdsmen become prosperous, this model should be applied to the global promotion of science and technology more desertified areas! "

The two sides also held Kubuqi desert Kubuqi Forum in the Swiss scientist dialogue, in-depth exchange of desert ecological restoration, construction of germplasm resources, biological soil large geographic information data model to promote its cloth, eco-industrial development and other issues, and We reached an intention to carry out further technical and scientific cooperation.

CAS Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute area director Wang Tao said: "While the deserts, the establishment of data monitoring system and dynamic models, scientifically validated technology to solve problems and achieve full and rational use of efficient use of resources can be achieved effective management, optimization of management way, intuitive understanding of its cloth pattern model overall operation, reduce management costs, the formation of independent scientific evaluation system, hoping to desert control and environmental protection to provide strong technical support for the Sino-Swiss joint. "

Peking University Professor Cai Mantang asked: "In the Kubuqi existing ecological restoration results from a pragmatic point of view and feasibility, to enhance the integration of existing technical resources and technical research and development pathways, summarizes the prior art, innovative technology, form the core technology to promote, promote integration of science and industry, the two sides establish a long-term close exchanges and cooperation, contributing to desertification control. "

end of google translation



Chinese Desert Researcher Receives Humboldt Research Award
Asian Scientist Newsroom | July 25, 2016 | Top News AsianScientist (Jul. 25, 2016) -

Dr. Yang Xiaoping was recognized for his research on environmental evolution and human activity in arid areas, among others.



Dr. Yang Xiaoping, a researcher with the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), has won the Humboldt Research Award, one of Germany’s top research awards. He is a rare geologist to have won the award.

Yang was honored for his research on environmental evolution and human activity in arid areas, and for studying the dynamic process and interaction of water and sand in these environments, according to the Humboldt Foundation that supports the award.

Yang is one of two Chinese recipients of this year’s Humboldt Research Award. The other award recipient is Dr. Wu Yundong, president of Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School and member of CAS.

The Humboldt Research Award is awarded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, which was founded in 1972 in Germany to recognize new scientific discoveries, theories, or insights that have a significant impact. Altogether, 29 scientists have won this year’s award, which comes with EUR 60,000 (~US$65,910) in research funding Read more from Asian Scientist Magazine at:

http://www.asianscientist.com/2016/07/topnews/yang-xiaoping-cas-humboldt-research-award/



Urumqi Forum Highlights Achievements in Combating Desertification
Wed, Jun 3, 2015
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of UNEP Award for "Saving the Drylands" and the 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Participants of the 2015 Urumqi Forum on Desertification

Urumqi, China, 3 June 2015 - The 2015 Urumqi Forum on Desertification was held yesterday, celebrating the 20th anniversary of "Saving the Drylands" award, granted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to projects in the region, and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR).
FURTHER RESOURCES

• UNEP - International Ecosystem Management Partnership
• UN Convention to Combat Desertification

Attended by over 150 participants, the event came ahead of the World Environment Day this Friday and the World Desertification Day later this month. It highlighted the achievements of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in combatting desertification in the region. The Institute was recognized by UNEP in 1995 with the "Saving the Drylands Award" for its outstanding contribution in combating desertification and controlling land degradation in dryland environments.

The region has devised innovative solutions to combat desertification, including the "Great Green Wall" - a line of specially selected trees cutting 436 kilometres into the desert, protecting the regions beyond it from sandstorms and preventing the desert from spreading. This and other projects introduced in the region have allowed for a high-level of agricultural production, and increased income of the local communities in the Taklamakan Desert.

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is the largest province in land area in China accounting for 1/6 of the territory. It is host to the second largest desert in the world - Taklamakan Desert - and has been designated the Core Area of the Silk Road Economic Zone. Desertification being a major environmental issue in the region, the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography has been working on counter measures since the 1960's which earned them two UNEP Awards for Saving the Drylands in 1995.

"I am extremely impressed by the work that has been done here on combating desertification in the region, by the authorities and by the Chinese Academy of Sciences despite the challenges of size, diversity of ecosystems, and the complexity of issues that are being dealt with." said Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director of UNEP during his opening statement.

"Drylands are not dead lands, we should not abandon them, rather we should value and invest in them as they are of extreme importance to humanity and the environment," he added.

"UNEP-awarded projects from Xinjiang did more than planting a tree 20 years ago, they planted a new culture and instigated a new way of thinking that it is possible to recreate and restore nature even in the harshest conditions. Thanks to the many efforts here, a change is being seen in deforestation rates worldwide," he concluded.

Mr. Thiaw commended the Institute on the significant achievements made in transferring knowledge, technology and good practices on desertification control to other developing countries, stating that China is leading the world in desertification control and reforestation.

Mr. Aierken Tuniyaki, Vice Chairman of the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region stressed in his opening remarks that Xinjiang is sparing no efforts in combatting desertification and will continue to do so, improving people's livelihoods and advancing economic development in a sustainable way to generate harmony and stability in the region.

Prof. Cao Jinghua, Deputy Director General of Bureau of International Cooperation, CAS speaking on behalf of the Vice President of CAS, Mr. Yaping Zhang, extended special thanks to the researchers of the Institute for all their efforts to combat desertification. He noted that Chinese efforts have contributed significantly to global action on desertification through its various projects and initiatives, such as creation of botanical gardens, encroachment of rivers, setting up field monitoring stations.

Prof. Chen Xi, Director General of XIEG stressed that the UNEP awards have been a significant encouragement to continue their work and have created new opportunities for collaboration with UNEP, particularly with the newly established International Ecosystem Management Partnership.

Prior to the Forum, Mr. Thiaw met with the Governor of XUAR, Mr. Shohrat Zakir and congratulated him on the occasion of the Autonomous Region's 60th anniversary. They exchanged views on combating desertification and restoring degraded drylands, recognizing and appreciating the role of the Great Green Wall in desertification control. They also touched upon cooperation on clean energy, China-African cooperation and climate change.

The Forum was sponsored by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It was organized by the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) and UNEP-International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP)

http://unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=26827&ArticleID=35161&l=en

 

[Solomon2]

Where is this National Geographic article?

I think it was "China's Growing Pains" from March of 2004. Not sure though.

 

[Three_Kingdoms]

I think it was "China's Growing Pains" from March of 2004. Not sure though.

It should be "China's growing GAINS"

Reforestation pilot in China is earning carbon credits
December 28, 2012

First temporary certified credits for reforestation issued in China

BEIJING, December 28, 2012 - A project that has reforested 3,000 hectares of previously barren land in China’s southwest Guangxi is issuing its first carbon credits under the Clean Development Mechanism. The Facilitating Reforestation for Guangxi Watershed Management in Pearl River Basin Project was the first reforestation project to be registered in the world under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which yesterday issued 131,964 temporary Certified Emission Reductions.

“With fast restoration and expansion of forest areas in recent years, China has great potential for carbon sequestration through afforestation and reforestation. The Guangxi project has demonstrated an innovative and effective approach to mitigating climate change,” said Klaus Rohland, World Bank’s Country Director for China.

The Guangxi Watershed in the Pearl River Basin, one of the richest and most diverse areas in terms of flora in the country, suffered greatly from deforestation since the 1950s. This, in addition to grazing, frequent fires and the use of wood for fuel, caused severe degradation of the original native forest. Despite efforts to restore forests in the 1990s, many areas remained either bare or sparsely populated with trees.

Supported by the provincial and local governments, local farmer communities are working with Kangyuan and Fuyuan forest farms, Xinghuan Forestry Development Company and Luhuan Forestry Development Company to restore the forest by planting mostly native species. Reforestation in this degraded region has played a vital role in terms of biodiversity, soil, and water conservation. The plantations established along the Pearl River, the third longest river in China, support both conservation and watershed management by controlling water erosion, and enhance biodiversity by improving habitats, increasing the connectivity of forests adjacent to nature reserves.

On a local level, the project uses innovative approaches, by enabling the carbon sequestered by trees to act as a “virtual cash crop”. Communities benefit from the direct income from the sale of the carbon credits to the World Bank’s BioCarbon Fund and from the products such as resin that the trees provide. Together, the villages decide which projects will be implemented, and local forestry companies provide them with training and technical services. In addition to providing a steady income from the sale of carbon credits and forestry products, the project will be able to involve about 15,000 local farmers in the planting and maintenance process, creating about 3.8 million person-days in temporary jobs and 30 long-term job positions over the 30-year crediting period.

The project has also raised the awareness of climate change among villagers. “We never realized that we could benefit from selling fresh air,” said 47-year old Tan Jiming from Leyi Village in Huanjiang County of Guangxi. Registered in 2007, this project helps to demonstrate that carbon revenues can enhance the long-term financial sustainability of a project as well as building forestry management capacity at both central and provincial levels. In 2010, the China Green Carbon Foundation was launched following this same approach of greenhouse gas (GHG) sequestration through reforestation.

“This project has attracted the attention of different sectors and regions, and we have seen a steady stream of visitors from other parts of China and abroad. We are very pleased to have shared our experience and lessons learned - it has really played a demonstrative role as a successful pilot project,”said Li Guiyu, Director of the Project Management Office in the Guangxi Forestry Bureau.

Useful Facts:

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is one of the flexible mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol intended to reduce the concentration of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere in a cost-effective manner. The CDM allows emission-reduction (or emission removal) projects in developing countries to earn certified emission reduction (CER) credits, each equivalent to one metric ton of carbon dioxide. These CERs can be traded and sold, and used by industrialized countries to meet a part of their emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol.

The World Bank’s BioCarbon Fund, created in 2004, is purchasing credits from over 20 afforestation and reforestation projects under the CDM in more than 16 countries and five regions of the world. The Fund’s resources are allocated to projects on degraded lands: half to projects with environmental restoration purposes, 25 percent for fuel-wood and 21 percent for timber. All of the projects directly benefit poor farmers; in most of them, farmers are planting their own lands.

http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/pr...tion-pilot-in-china-is-earning-carbon-credits

 

[Three_Kingdoms]

China: Integrating Forest Development with Biodiversity Conservation and Carbon Reduction
April 10, 2014

• 

In recent years, growing demand for timber, combined with poor resources management, threatened Guangxi’s ecosystems and unique biodiversity. Watch the slideshow.


Between 2006 and 2012, the World Bank worked with Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southwest China to improve forest resources management by expanding timber plantations, restoring forests, demonstrating better ecosystem management, and piloting carbon sequestration and trading. The project increased forest coverage by more than 232,000 ha, reduced carbon emission, enhanced biodiversity conservation, and raised incomes for more than 215,000 rural families.
Challenge

China has long been a forest-poor country. Though its forest cover increased from 13 percent in the 1980s to 18.2 percent by 2005 thanks to an extensive plantations program, the hectare per capita of 0.13 remained significantly below the world average of 0.6. With rapid economic growth, China’s forests came under intense pressure due to the growing demand for timber and pulpwood. The logging ban introduced by the government in 1998 further aggravated the wood shortage. This challenge was more acute in Guangxi, where combined with weak forest resources protection resulted in a threat to its unique biodiversity including one of the largest and most important representatives of karst ecosystem in the world.

In the context of climate change, forests play an important role in absorbing and storing greenhouse gases. China committed to increase its forest cover by 40 million ha and forest stock volume by 1.3 billion m3 between 2005 and 2012 to achieve the set target of reducing its carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) by 40 to 45 percent.

Approach/Solution

Designed to be forward looking and innovative, the project introduced a sector-wide, integrated and comprehensive approach to sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation by providing support to three key areas of sustainable forest management including: 1) timber production； 2) ecological environment protection； and 3) biodiversity conservation.

At the same time, the project emphasized institutional capacity building to ensure long-term sustainability. It also tapped the resources of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to promote innovative biodiversity conservation approaches, and incorporated the BioCarbon Fund to pilot the world’s first Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) afforestation and reforestation operation, which was registered by the United Nations.

The objective of the project was to relieve pressure on forest resources, increase forest production capacity, and step up efforts to conserve watersheds and biodiversity to strengthen the environmental functions of forests and mitigate climate change.

" I participated in the reforestation project in 2006. We only knew that we could earn money by selling timber, but at the time didn’t realize that we could benefit from selling fresh air. I am very happy and will continue to participate in such projects in the future. "
Tan Jianming
farmer from Leyi Village in Huanjiang Count
Results

The project was an example of a “triple win” combining a World Bank loan, GEF funding and carbon finance to achieve more sustainable timber production, rural poverty reduction, natural resources conservation, and carbon sequestration. Some specific results achieved between 2006 and 2012 include:

• 214,000 ha of timber plantations were established with production capacity of 32.7 million m3, reducing the pressure on nature forests.
• 18,000 ha of multiple-function protection forests were established, and closure of 109,580 ha of degraded watershed and karst areas for natural regeneration resulted in 12 percent increase in vegetation cover.
• In the two carbon finance operations, 9,860 ha of multiple-purpose forests were planted in degraded lands； 167,700 tons of carbon dioxide was sequestered； and so far US$ 636,868 have been earned from selling the Certified Emission Reductions (CER) and distributed to the farmers and forest farms.
• 118,020 households earned additional income from employment in tree planting and from higher productivity plantations. In addition, 101,500 households benefited through watershed reforestation, carbon trade pilots and grants provided to communities around nature reserves to develop alternative livelihoods.
• The populations of key indicator species and areas of limestone forests in the five targeted nature reserves remained stable or were increasing. For example, the number of Francoisi leaf monkeys in Nong Gang Nature Reserve increased from 66 to 98.
• 164 new species identified through cave biodiversity surveys, making Guangxi a new Global Hotspot for cave biodiversity.

" We received seed grants in 2008. I chose to raise silkworms. I planted 3 mu (about 0.2 hectares) of mulberry trees, and can earn more than 30,000 yuan a year. It has increased our family income. "
Wei Wenxian
farmer from Juqun Village of Liangjiang Township
Bank Contribution

The World Bank provided a loan of US$100 million as well as its global experience and innovative approaches such as the CDM reforestation and community engagement in biodiversity conservation. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) provided a grant of US$5.25 million with focus on improving management of five nature reserves and conservation of the globally significant biodiversity in Guangxi. Payments from the Certified Emission Reduction Credits from the BioCarbon Fund were not intended to directly finance the project investment. However, the revenue stream from the sale of CERs enabled the carbon sequestered by the trees to serve as a “virtual cash crop” to local communities to engage them in sustainable forest resources management.

Partners

Guangxi Government made a strong commitment to the project implementation. A project leading group was set up at the provincial level with the vice governor in charge of forestry as its head. It ensured timely delivery of counterpart funds, sound organizational engagement and strong support of technical services, which guaranteed the successful implementation of the project. Firm commitments and strong support to the project were also reflected in the government’s decision to increase its counterpart funding contribution rather than reducing the scope of the project in the face of a depreciating US dollar and rising labor and input costs. It also put great efforts into overcoming the difficulties caused by the devastating snowstorms in 2008 and prolonged drought in 2010 by providing funds and technical assistance to replant damaged areas.

Moving Forward

After project completion, local farmers, communities and forest farms assumed responsibility for the management of the plantations. Project activities were integrated into the county governments’ forest management system and became their operational routine. For watershed management, the provincial government has put in place an annual grant of 75 RMB/ha/year for ecological forests’ management to ensure the continuity of the program. Access to the CDM program also provides additional incentive to villagers to continue with long-term forest management. Study groups from 12 other Chinese provinces and 10 other countries visited the project areas to learn from the experience in CDM reforestation and cave and karst ecosystem conservation which has potential for replication.

Beneficiaries

Tan Jianming, farmer from Leyi Village in Huanjiang County:

“I participated in the reforestation project in 2006. We only knew that we could earn money by selling timber, but never realized that we could benefit from selling fresh air. I am very happy and will continue to participate in such projects in the future.”

Wei Wenxian, farmer from Juqun Village of Liangjiang Township:

“We received seed grants in 2008. I chose to raise silkworms. I planted 3 mu (about 0.2 hectares) of mulberry trees, and can earn more than 30,000 yuan a year. It has increased our family income.”

MULTIMEDIA

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China：Growing Trees to Reduce Carbon Emissions

214,000 ha
of timber plantations were established with production capacity of 32.7 million m3, reducing the pressure on nature forests.
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http://www.worldbank.org/en/results...iodiversity-conservation-and-carbon-reduction

 

[Three_Kingdoms]

Country makes gains in fight against desertification
By Hao Nan ( China Daily )Updated: 2016-06-17 09:00:08
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China's long-term policies are paying off, but more action is needed, says official

China's efforts to curtail desertification are paying off thanks to a series of long-term policies and measures implemented by governments at all levels, with data revealing that desertified and sandified areas in the country are shrinking.

Results of the latest National Monitoring of Desertification and Sandification, which were issued at the end of 2015, showed that areas of both desertified and sandified land were annually reduced between 2010 and 2014, at a yearly average of 2,424 square kilometersand 1,980 sq km respectively.

This was the third consecutive monitoring period during which there was a reduction on both counts.

China has been monitoring desertification and sandification every five years since the1990s, to provide scientific information for policy makers to help combat land desertification.

Each monitoring lasts about one year and a half, during which data was collected on the status and dynamics of land.

"Land desertification poses the most serious threat to ecological development in China," said Zhang Yongli, deputy head of the State Forestry Administration.

According to Zhang, China now has 2.61 million sq km of soil that is classified as undergoing desertification, spreading across 528 counties in 18 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, as well as about 1.72 million sq km of land that has been lost to sandification, accounting for 18 percent of the country's total land area and directly affecting some 400 million people.

The State Council set up a land restoration group in the early 1950s and since then has organized several national working conferences and projects, including afforestation and the construction of shelter belts, which are barriers of trees and shrubs planted to protect crops and soil, in attempts to halt expanding land desertification.

It also introduced related laws and regulations to promote and support those efforts.

After Xi Jinping became president in 2013, China made "ecological civilization" one of its leading principles for reaching the goal of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. It implemented a new round of restoring grain plots to forestry and grass, and delimited ecological red lines for forests, grasslands and wetlands.

Restoration projects have promoted the restructuring of rural industries and benefited the lives of people in such regions as Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia and Liaoning.

"China's efforts to combat land desertification have gained wide international acclaim," Zhang said.

The country has committed itself to the principles defined in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and also works to promote international communication and cooperation in the sector.

The UNCCD's secretariat has singled out China as a role model for treating and preventing land desertification and has twice recognized the SFA for its "outstanding contributions".

Despite the outstanding improvements, the monitoring results also show that both desertification and sandification are still a serious issue, said Zhang.

China has vowed to improve conditions on more than 50 percent of treatable desertified land by 2020.

During the process, oasis protection and construction would serve as an ultimate goal, Zhang added.

How to carry out afforestation

Afforestation on sandified areas must adhere to specific requirements, such as measures adapted to local conditions.

Vegetation in arid areas is valuable and its protection should be prioritized during the treatment of land desertification and sandification.

Areas for afforestation should be properly selected.

The handling of water resources should serve as an important factor to decide the size of afforestation.

Efficient water use is important, so water-conservation technologies and related productsneed to be developed.

Local conditions dictate plant species. Of treated areas, 77 percent are covered in shrubs and grassland, 21 percent in arbors, shrubs and grasses, and only 1.8 percent in arbors, according to the fifth China National Monitoring of Desertification and Sandification.

Anti-drought and local tree species are recommended.

Low-density afforestation technologies should be promoted.

Artificial afforestation and natural restoration should be combined.

haonan@chinadaily.com.cn

A stark difference is obvious between the previous desert and aff orested land in Ningxia.PhotosProvided To China Daily

China has been monitoring desertification since 1990s to provide scientific information for policy makers to help combat land degradation.

A vineyard on land which was once a sandified land in Huailai, Hebei province.
Zhang Yu / China Daily

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2016-06/17/content_25741743.htm

 

[PakistaniNawab]

What about the use of artificial mountains to cause rain and instead of wood we should use hemp to make paper ect.

 

[Jlaw]

What about the use of artificial mountains to cause rain and instead of wood we should use hemp to make paper ect.

I heard China will divert monsoon rain from india over Himalayas in near future for dry western parts of China. india will have more drought when that happen. @Kiss_of_the_Dragon

 

[AndrewJin]

@Three_Kingdoms 6:20, forests back in northern Shannxi's loess plateau!

@Chinese Bamboo Shannxi Province will be your second hometown in your life!