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Three generations’ 38-year-effort to reverse desertification
By:Zheng Qian  |  From:english.eastday.com  |  2019-12-05 16:09

The story of three generations of Chinese who have been devoted to desert afforestation over the past 38 years was shared in Fudan University on October 3.

In the 1970s, Babusha, a large sand dune on the southern edge of the Tengger desert in Northwest China’s Gansu Province, gradually encroached south, threatening Gulang County's social and economic development and the livelihoods of the people who lived there. Six local farmers decided to plant trees to prevent the spread of the desertand they did it all voluntarily, despite the fact that they could not even feed themselves well.

Guo Wangang, the second generation of desertification controllers for Babusha, is a descendant of the six people who started the reforestation program and have touched many due to their perseverance and dedication and are nicknamed “Six Elders on Babusha Forest Farm ”.

(Guo Wangang, the second generation representative of the desert-controlling group gives a speech)

Guo, who took over his father’s job of eradicating desertification 38 years ago, recalled how his forerunners undertook the national mission of desert control. It is their selfless dedication that inspired him to resolutely continue the unfinished desert management cause.“As long as we persist year after year and from generation to generation, there will be a day when the desert changes into green scenery,” Guo said firmly.

(Students of Fudan University listen to the report)

Guo Xi, the third-generation representative of the desert-controlling people, is the caretaker of the Babusha Forest Farm and he is the nephew of Guo Wangang. Although once looking forward to the bustling city life, Guo Xi, moved by his grandfather’s spirit, finally made his decision to keep on with his elders’ afforestation career. Pioneering the model of mechanized sand control and afforestation, the younger man has expanded the control scale and raised the standard of forestation.

(Student representatives pose for a photo with the desert controllers)

Data shows that up to now, the desert protection people have completed 217,000 mu of afforestation with more than 30.4 million desert plants planted.

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