On May 17th, Pulsestacks reported on the "Green Belt Action" by Volkswagen China, which has been implemented in Bayannur, Inner Mongolia.
The opening lines of the ancient Northern Dynasties folk song "The Ballad of Chilie" paint a vivid picture of Inner Mongolia: "The sky is vast, the wilderness endless, where the wind blows, the grass bends low, and cattle and sheep roam." This poetic imagery captures the majestic beauty of the Inner Mongolian grasslands, leaving a lasting impression on people's minds. In reality, Inner Mongolia boasts a diverse natural landscape, including vast grasslands, forests, wetlands, rivers, lakes, and deserts.
For instance, Bayannur in western Inner Mongolia, meaning "rich lakes," features the Hetao Plain in the south, the Yinshan Mountains in the central region, and the Ulan Butung grasslands in the north, earning it the reputation of "Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall." The region's varied topography encompasses mountains, waters, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands, and deserts, showcasing a rich array of ecological elements.
Of particular concern is the recent findings from the sixth national desertification and desert monitoring survey, which revealed that Bayannur City has a total of 31.5453 million mu of desertified land, including 5.4465 million mu of mild, 7.537 million mu of moderate, 14.8055 million mu of severe, and 3.7563 million mu of extremely severe desertification. This makes it one of the severely affected areas in the country by land desertification and desertification, serving as a crucial defense line against the eastward spread of sand and dust from China's northwest.
Representatives from Volkswagen Group (China), China Green Foundation, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Forestry and Grassland Bureau attended the "Volkswagen Group (China) Public Welfare Forest Project - Green Belt Action" event. According to the plan, the project will plant 850,000 tamarisk and jujube trees in Bayannur, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and manage 4 million square meters of scattered desert areas around local villages and farmland to support local desertification control.
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The "Green Belt Action" public welfare forest project follows the principle of planting suitable trees in suitable locations. In Bayannur, 850,000 tamarisk and jujube trees will be planted to reforest and restore the ecology of the desert areas, improving and managing 4 million square meters of scattered desert areas around local villages and farmland.
The Bayannur project aims to create a combined afforestation and sand control model that integrates ecology and economy, creating long-term economic benefits under the forest canopy and achieving a win-win situation for ecological and livelihood improvements.
Ms. Zhang Wei, Vice President of Public Relations at Volkswagen Group (China), stated, "'Green Belt Action' is an important part of Volkswagen Group (China)'s sustainable development strategy. So far, a total of 3.4 million suitable tree species have been planted, afforesting 16 million square meters, benefiting over 280,000 residents, and contributing to the construction of a 'Green Great Wall' for ecological security in northern China."
Planting trees in the desert - what is the experience like? A firsthand account of Volkswagen China's "Green Belt Action" (Source: pulsestacks)
Bayannur is located at the top of the "Horseshoe Bend" of the Yellow River, with the Ulan Buh and Tengger Deserts within its territory being the main sources of Yellow River sediment. The San Shengguo National Water Conservancy Hub, known as the "First Dam of the Yellow River for Thousands of Miles," is located in Dengkou County, Bayannur City. The sand control and ecological restoration work in Bayannur are crucial for the ecological protection of the entire Yellow River Basin.
As one of the volunteers for the "Green Belt Action," the author, along with Volkswagen China and other media participants, visited Bayannur. In just two days, transitioning from an observer and reporter to an active participant in environmental and ecological protection efforts, a deeper understanding of the significance of improving the ecological environment and developing the understory economy was gained.
The "Green Belt Action" public welfare forest project is targeting the scattered sandy land of 4 million square meters in Bayannur for edge locking. By planting 8
As Ms. Zhang Wei, Vice President of Public Relations of Volkswagen Group (China), mentioned, "'Green Belt Action' is an important part of Volkswagen Group (China)'s sustainable development strategy. Adhering to the development strategy of 'In China, For China,' after 40 years in China, Volkswagen Group (China) actively fulfills corporate social responsibility and progresses together with Chinese society. Since its inception, 'Green Belt Action' has planted a total of 3.4 million suitable tree species, afforested 16 million square meters, benefiting over 280,000 residents, and helping to build the 'Green Great Wall' for ecological security in northern China."
Chairman Chen Shuxian of the China Green Foundation stated, "Currently, desertification remains the primary ecological threat in northern China, constraining the economic and social development of desertified areas. As one of the regions severely affected by land desertification and desertification in the country, Bayannur is located in the northern sand prevention belt of the 'Three Zones and Four Belts' ecological security pattern, serving as an important defense line to prevent the westward invasion of sand and dust storms in northwest China. We are carrying out the 'Green Belt Action' public welfare forest project with Volkswagen Group (China) in Bayannur to support local sand prevention, desert control, and ecological restoration efforts, win the battle against the 'Ji Zi Bend' of the Yellow River, and protect the ecological significance of the Yellow River Basin. We look forward to the project creating long-term ecological, economic, and social benefits, and mobilizing more social forces and enthusiasts to actively participate in ecological protection."
The saxaul and jujube trees planted in the Bayannur project have now sprouted and burst with vitality.
The "Green Belt Action" public welfare forest project in Bayannur combines ecological optimization with economic benefits. On one hand, through afforestation activities, it borders the sporadic sandy areas around villages and farmland to prevent sand movement and diffusion, reduce the impact of sandstorms on the lives and production of local residents, and help block the entry of sand into the river, safeguarding the ecological security of the Yellow River basin. On the other hand, after the saxaul seedlings planted in the public welfare forest grow into forests, local people can graft and plant valuable Chinese medicinal materials such as Cistanche under the trees, supporting local development through exploring "under-forest economy" and achieving a win-win situation for environmental ecology and livelihood improvement.
Volunteer participants in the "Green Belt Action" public welfare forest project watered jujube trees.
The Volkswagen Group (China) public welfare forest project, known as the "Green Belt Action," is jointly initiated by Volkswagen Group (China) along with Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, and Bentley brands, in collaboration with the China Green Foundation. The project aims to plant 8.5 million suitable tree species in 10 ecologically fragile areas in northern China from 2021 to 2030, covering a reforestation area of 40 million square meters. Since its launch in 2021, the "Green Belt Action" project has completed tree planting tasks in Gulang County, Gansu Province, Huzhu County in Qinghai, Jinta County in Gansu, and Bayannur City in Inner Mongolia. These efforts contribute to windbreak and sand fixation, biodiversity improvement, hydro-ecological security, desertification control, and other restoration and management work. The project also continues to improve livelihoods by creating job opportunities, developing understory economies, and further boosting the local economy, benefiting over 280,000 residents in the project areas to date.
The results of Volkswagen China's "Green Belt Action" reforestation in 2023.
The Green Belt Action 2021 Afforestation Achievements in China
The Green Belt Action 2022 afforestation achievements in China
The results of the Volkswagen China "Green Belt Action" 2023 afforestation initiative
From "sand advancing, people retreating" to "harmony between people and sand," the public welfare forest project of the "Green Belt Action" not only consolidates the achievements of desertification control through practical actions but also supports the sustainable development of the local ecological environment and society. It also further popularizes ecological knowledge and spreads environmental protection concepts. In the future, it is hoped that more people will take action to jointly safeguard the ecological barrier in the north and build a low-carbon future.
