Article

The Kubuqi Desert, once deemed the "Sea of Death," has undergone a remarkable transformation through extensive desertification control efforts. With a control rate escalating from 7% to 40% in 2024, the region aims for 50% by 2025 and 70% by 2030.

This success is attributed to a 420-kilometer northern shelterbelt and a comprehensive "four-pillar desertification prevention" framework that incorporates photovoltaic (PV) arrays, silt dams, and other ecological measures. Since 1995, these initiatives have curtailed soil erosion by 5.7 million mu (approximately 380,000 hectares) and increased soil-water conservation efficiency to 61.4%, preventing 300 million tons of sediment from entering the Yellow River.

Central to this initiative is the "PV + Desertification Control" model, which has installed 10.02 gigawatts of solar capacity over 46,700 hectares of rehabilitated desert. This integrated framework simultaneously generates clean energy, supports sustainable agriculture, and facilitates livestock grazing, thus enhancing local incomes by over 30,000 RMB through "work-relief programs." Projects like the Dalad Banner's "Steed Solar Park" exemplify this innovative approach.

The city of Ordos has employed a holistic "ecosystem integration" strategy to combat desertification, allocating 14.9 billion RMB towards priority projects and achieving a 60% application rate of advanced technologies. The integration of financial, technological, and collaborative measures, involving over 30 state-owned enterprises and numerous NGOs, has proven effective.

Ordos's efforts have not only transformed the ecological landscape but have also spurred economic growth, achieving a total output value of 7.5 billion RMB from forestry and grassland in 2024. As the 10th Kubuqi International Desert Forum approaches, the Kubuqi model stands as a replicable template for addressing global desertification challenges, showcasing how ecological restoration can be harmonized with economic development.