Beijing Review – August 01, 2019

http://www.bjreview.com AUGUST 1, 2019 BEIJING REVIEW 33

NATION

Copyedited by Rebeca Toledo

Comments to [email protected]

Wang said ELION’s experience in de-
sertification control over its 30 years of
management of Inner Mongolia’s Kubuqi
Desert, the seventh largest desert in China
with an area of about 18,600 square km,
could be helpful in Africa.
Since its founding in 1988 as a salt
producer in Kubuqi, ELION has been con-
tributing to greening the desert. In so
doing, it has developed what is called the
Kubuqi model, a sustainable approach
of balancing a desert economy and en-
vironmental protection. By developing
industries suitable for the desert, such as
solar energy and licorice planting, as well as
FDUU\LQJRXWODUJHVFDOHDQWLGHVHUWLĶFDWLRQ
projects, the desert economy is thriving
and the economic gains in return provide
funds for further control efforts.
“This model is suitable for regions
where the environment is harsh, vulnerable
or contaminated, as is the case in Africa,”
Wang told Beijing Review.
Thirty years down the line, Kubuqi is

a vastly different place. In 2016, vegeta-

tion coverage in the desert increased to

53 percent from 3-5 percent in 1988. The

revenue generated has lifted more than

100,000 local people living in the desert

out of poverty.

Balance is the key

Speaking on the prospects of China-Africa

cooperation over desertification control,

Xu said desertification is caused partly by

natural factors such as climate change and

partly by human activity. It is difficult for

humans to change nature, so it is impos-

VLEOHWRVROYHGHVHUWLĶFDWLRQSHUFHQWDW

this point, he said. But Xu remains optimis-

tic that with proper control measures, the

part of desertification caused by human

activity can be addressed.

The success of initiatives in Kubuqi

adds weight to his view.

In the distant past, the desert was once

a fertile, lush land along the northern rim

of the Yellow River, one of China’s key wa-

terways. Desertification only began with

the influx of people into this area during

the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D.

,QWHQVLĶHGKXPDQDFWLYLW\WUDQVIRUPHG

Kubuqi into a desert over the past two

centuries.

This story is similar to what happened

in Africa. Studies show that the massive

Sahara Desert was covered with lush veg-

etation 10,000 years ago, until the arrival of

humans.

“For desertification control, the key

is to find a balance between the limited

resources in deserts, especially water re-

sources, and the human need for these

resources,” said Xu. “If we plan reasonably,

make rational use of resources and live in

peace with the environment, we will suffer

OHVVIURPGHVHUWLĶFDWLRQRWKHUZLVHQDWXUH

will take its revenge on us.” Q

CO

URT

ESY

(^) PH
OTO
;LQMLDQJ,QVWLWXWHRI(FRORJ\DQG*HRJUDSK\VWDIIDQG$IULFDQWUDLQHHVGXULQJDYLVLWWRDSURMHFWRQGHVHUWLĶFDWLRQFRQWUROLQQRUWKZHVW&KLQDoV;LQMLDQJ8\JXU$XWRQRPRXV5HJLRQLQ